I just watched a video where someone genuinely asked how companies like Ford, GM, Toyota, & Dodge are going to survive in a world dominated by Tesla & Chinese automakers – because they’re “not automated enough.” Their argument? Human involvement is apparently the weak link in modern vehicle production.

Y’all please breathe…

Because last time I checked, Tesla still can’t figure out how to align a trunk lid. Tesla doors shut like a microwave, and I’ve seen dollar-store toys with tighter tolerances. I’ve personally looked at Teslas with glue oozing out of body panels like a 3rd grader’s art project. And don’t even get me started on the windshield washer fluid leaking into areas with sensitive electronics. Genius.

Automation isn’t the devil… 

It speeds up production, makes repetitive tasks easier, and helps keep costs down when done right. But somewhere along the way, some of y’all tech-worshippers decided that human hands were the problem. Like the guy welding brackets on a Tacoma frame for 15 years suddenly forgot how to do his job because some machine in China learned how to mimic it.

Let me say this plainly… 

Just because a robot can build something, doesn’t mean it’s better. In fact, sometimes it can be worse. You ever tried to get warranty-work done on a Tesla? Good luck. All this futuristic tech and ultra-light structure isn’t built to take a punch. It’s built to put cartoon hearts in the eyes of tech-lovers… and maybe survive long enough to make it through a lease. Meanwhile, Ford, GM, Toyota, etc have been building vehicles that last for decades. Trucks that go over 300k. Sedans that outlive the badge on the trunk. Are they perfect? No. And even their new models are often caught-up in over-complication, over-tech, and cheaply made parts these days. But they’ve got generations of mechanical & production know-how. 

Here’s what nobody seems to be asking… 

Why are we so quick to erase jobs that require actual skill & mastery? What’s with the obsession of removing the human element… as if craftsmanship is a “problem that needs fixing”? Experienced engineers, welders, line workers, and master mechanics know their stuff like the back of their hand. Folks who can ‘feel’ when a bolt’s torqued just right. People who’ve spent decades mastering the art of building cars with passion & precision. And you want to replace that with a machine that can’t tell the difference between Loctite and lotion?

There’s a reason Nissan GT-R engines are hand-assembled by a small, elite group called the Takumi craftsmen…

These aren’t just workers; they’re engine whisperers. They build each GT-R engine in a clean room, by hand, one at a time. And they even sign the finished engine. You don’t get that kind of accountability or pride from a robot. Same goes for AMG engines. One man, one engine: That’s the motto. When you buy an AMG, you get a nameplate stamped by the master technician who built your engine from the ground up. That’s not some corny marketing gimmick. That’s mastery. And if we’re talking precision? Let’s bring in Brabus. These wizards weigh every single engine component to ensure perfect balance. Every piston, every rod… balanced & matched. Not because it’s fast or efficient – but because it’s right.

We’re so caught-up in the idea of automation… 

That we’re forgetting what made cars special in the first place. It wasn’t just mobility – it was emotion, craftsmanship, & pride. You felt it in the engine note, the way the doors shut, and the way the gauges came to life. It was real. And it’s being replaced with plastic, touchscreen lag, and TikTok compatibility. 

And here’s the part nobody wants to mention until it’s too late: Repair Costs…

The more you automate production to save time & money (not yours but theirs), the more you end up with cars that are built like phones. Cheap to make, expensive to buy, and damn-near impossible to repair. Why? Because the whole design was optimized for speed & profit, not for serviceability or quality. Panels are glued together, not bolted. Clips are used where brackets used to be. And components are buried under a labyrinth of obstacles, because it’s faster for a robot to slap it all together… than it is for a human to take it apart later.

So when you get in a fender bender… 

That little “oopsie” in a parking lot might cost more than an engine rebuild used to. Why? Because instead of replacing a bracket/bumper, now you’re replacing an entire front quarter that includes cameras, sensors, wiring harnesses, and pre-painted panels with VIN-specific coding. Oh and guess what? It’s all glued in place because it saved 22-seconds and 75-cents on the production line. Run over a curb in your Tesla, and you’ve likely just totaled your EV. It’s reflected in your ever-increasing insurance rates. 

This is the curse of over-automation…

You’re not buying a car anymore, you’re buying a sealed gadget with wheels. It’s not robust & durable. And when it breaks, everything about it is disposable except for the bill. That’s not progress – that’s waste. And it’s not just bad for your wallet – it’s bad for the environment too. All this talk of “sustainability”, yet we’re designing vehicles that are anything but.

Meanwhile older vehicles… 

Built by people, for people – were made with repairs & longevity in mind. You could unbolt a fender, replace a light, patch a panel, and buy a new battery at the local parts store. Engines were serviceable by your local mechanic. Panels were metal. Bumpers were bumpers – not $3,000 worth of cameras & sensors hiding behind painted plastic. And we wonder why a 22-year-old Tacoma is more desirable & valuable than a 5 year old EV. Actually… we don’t wonder.

And here’s where the tech crowd really loses the plot: They think every issue can be solved with a software update…

Battery not charging right? Software update. EV won’t work in the rain? Software update. Contactors overheat & car loses all power? Just stop being such a luddite… and wait for the software update. Look, if my steering isn’t right, I don’t want a software patch. I want a mechanic. A trained human being with eyes & a torque wrench. Not an over-the-air bandage from a company that still hasn’t figured out what the problem is in the first place.

Cars aren’t an iPhone…

It’s a 2-ton machine flying down the road at 70 mph with my family inside. I don’t want my steering calibrated by a guy named Trevor who wears Lulu. I want a vehicle built by engineers who understand mechanics, dynamics, performance, materials, and – maybe even someone who’s had grease under their nails once or twice.

We’re missing Feel, Feedback, and Finesse…

Most modern drivers don’t even know what great is anymore. But building a great car is more than just efficiency, screen-size, and speed. It’s about soul, and the subtle things – the nuances. The feel of the steering, the sound of the engine, when & how the power hits, and the anticipation of all these things. That’s not a language that robots speak. Rather, it’s the language of an experience… from humans to other humans.

It’s the kind of expertise that doesn’t live on a server farm… 

It lives in calloused hands and muscle-memory. In builders who know how a car should behave, because they’ve built hundreds… maybe thousands. So no – I don’t think legacy automakers are doomed because they still rely on human hands. I think they’re grounded because they still understand what makes a car… a car. Not a rolling tablet, and not a novelty gadget. But something more. A machine that moves people – not just physically, but emotionally. Okay, that last one is still arguable with all these new cookie-cutter crossovers out there… but baby-steps. 

And if you’re a tech geek…

Cool, we’re not against you. We’re just trying to broaden your perspective a little bit. We all have passions & things that are important to us. Things that are worth the effort. If you’re a musician, I’m sure you wouldn’t like me saying that musicians are irrelevant because we can make music on an app now. And if you’re a photographer, I’m sure you’d have something to say if I claimed iPhones are more convenient & just as good. If you’re a chef or nutritionist, you’d probably scoff at me saying, “It’s all just food to me.” The MORE… is what makes us human. And true progress comes from learning from one another… not winning an argument or agenda.

So to the tech bros sounding the alarm…

About traditional automakers being left behind… y’all gotta chill. Because faster doesn’t always mean better. Cheaper doesn’t always mean smarter (or cheaper). And automation, for all its efficiency, will never replace the human touch that built this industry & added the magic & freedom & excitement to it. Or I should clarify: The scary thing is that automation DOES replace those… but with a void. We didn’t fall in love with cars because they connected to Wi-Fi. We fell in love because they connected to us. Some things deserve to be built by hand.

Article by David S. Windsor