Johnson Controls

Implementing the short-range wireless technology Bluetooth in cars seems like a no-brainer.

 It distinguishes great companies from the mediocre.

Bill Fluharty, vice president of Industrial Design at Johnson Controls, not surprisingly thinks that the focus on automotive interiors is well overdue. Some of the drivers for this change of perspective may be surprising.

By rethinking designs and working toward more efficient solutions, seats will be major contributors to vehicle downsizing and lightweighting.

At Johnson Controls’ annual Team Rally, acting skills are nearly as important as the ability to explain Six Sigma.

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Be true to your attributes. Embrace conflict. Be authentic. No, these are not chapter headings for the latest self-help book, but some of the guidelines Johnson Controls, Inc. is using to frame the future of automotive interiors.

The mid-size 2005 Pathfinder, Nissan's largest design and development program to date, involved three technical centers, and took 36 months and countless trans-Pacific trips to complete. Though it borrows major components from the full-size Titan pickup and Armada SUV, it's not just a downsized clone.

Here’s a look at how Johnson Controls creates leading interiors as well as cool ideas for clever products.

Designing, Engineering & Making The Drop-Top