Hacker News Reader

Comment by Terretta | Hacker News Reader

The touch screen is one thing. To your point, arguably it's no incremental cost.

But I don't buy that electro-mechanical latches and actuators and wiring cost less than a dumb latch.

Not having an accessible mechanical latch in the front of the glovebox hatch means it’s now a single smooth surface. That’s way cheaper to injection mould than something with a hole in it.

Also, the mechanical latch mechanism needs to be strong enough to withstand hard use over many years. AND it needs to be made in a shape and finish that fits the design of the interior. AND it needs to feel good in the hand. AND it might need a lock in it, either due to expectation or regulation.

Suddenly a simple little solenoid and metre of thin gauge wire starts looking pretty cheap.

I call BS. The cost of any difference in the dies for manufacturing the glovebox will be amortized to cents over a run of thousands of glove boxes and it's not like each wire you add to the wiring harness and connector that needs to be connected doesn't also have incremental costs associated with it.

This design is an aesthetic choice, though certainly motivated parties could spin at as being cheaper (I suspect it's close to a wash).

Another aspect of the touchscreen button, and no one else is mentioning, is the elimination of the valet key. Auto makers for years have had to machine an entirely separate key. The only difference being that it can start the car, but cannot open the trunk and the glove box. Presumably, this electronic actuator wouldn’t need the need for a separate valet key.

Not that I’m endorsing any of this, I have a model Y, and detest how hard it is to open the glove box.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com