A small but clever change in the tie-rod, which is used as a connecting brace, allows it to be installed in a car by a robot. That allows automated alignment and eliminates three or four jobs on a typical assembly line. As a result, quality is more consistent and the process is altogether cheaper. Delphi Automotive Systems' adjustable foot pedals. They serve a dual purpose.
Short people can sit higher in their seats without being on top of the air bag.
And part of the mechanism swings up to hold the driver's heel and lessen the danger of a leg injury in an accident. Faurecia's Morphee headrest system. The headrest has a hands-free microphone and cellular phone speaker built in. The asymmetrical headrest cradles the sleepy passenger's head, and the seat bottom rocks up when the seat back reclines, so sleepers are safer in an accident. Right now, the system is just a schematic on the wall, but it could show up in North American trucks within a few years.