Even if you skip the mechanics of internal combustion, Luxury vehicles have terrible user interfaces, tons of features (GPS, audio video systems, cameras, auto pilot systems), and crazy complex supply chains required to produce. Not to mention things like regulations for emissions and safety concerns.
In fact they can only get away with it because design cycles are ~5 years with only minor cosmetic changes between those years (yep, your "new" vehicle started in a manufacturing cycle 5 years ago with a design cycle 7-10 years ago)
Add on the quackiest institutionalized distribution model (required franchises)... and certainly it could be argued that automobiles as a whole had to augment the entire physical landscape of the United States. I think its pretty safe to say they win the complexity award.
Even if you skip the mechanics of internal combustion, Luxury vehicles have terrible user interfaces, tons of features (GPS, audio video systems, cameras, auto pilot systems), and crazy complex supply chains required to produce. Not to mention things like regulations for emissions and safety concerns.
In fact they can only get away with it because design cycles are ~5 years with only minor cosmetic changes between those years (yep, your "new" vehicle started in a manufacturing cycle 5 years ago with a design cycle 7-10 years ago)
Add on the quackiest institutionalized distribution model (required franchises)... and certainly it could be argued that automobiles as a whole had to augment the entire physical landscape of the United States. I think its pretty safe to say they win the complexity award.