Modularity concepts for the automotive industry: A critical review

Modularization has been used mostly in order for the management of complex systems to be simplified. In the present paper, the major evolutions of modularity concepts are reviewed in the case of the automotive industry. The current trend indicates that the next generation of vehicles will change from the integrated “unibody” with high production volume and low flexibility, to the modular ones of middle to high production volume and flexibility. Typical examples of different modular design approaches are presented and discussed. The paper includes the vehicle's body design requirements that have to be met in order for such a modular approach to be effective.