Not that long ago, an automobile was thought of strictly as a mode of transportation.  Sure, cars became a way that people used to define themselves by the cost, speed, or sex appeal of the automobile they drove; but the car was still just a way to get from point A to point B.

Buyers’ demands for more comfort led to many improvements throughout the automobile from seating to ride control to better sounding radios.  However, in just the past few years, the demand for driver and occupant “creature features” has exploded.  Now people want studio quality sound systems, theater quality movie systems and connectivity 24/7.  They want to know where they are, where they’re going and how to get there (navigation).  They want access to their office, access to the internet and immediate access to any data needed for them to be able to communicate with business contacts, family and friends.

Consumers are also demanding greater safety in the cars they drive, which has led to products like airbags (up to 12 per vehicle), ABS, electronic stability control, lane change assist, traction control, back-up cameras and crash avoidance.  In addition to the changes initiated by the consumers, there have been many other changes that have been dictated by the government, including the demand for better gas mileage and cleaner emissions that have spawned a wide variety of new engine controls and devices.  These days, it’s difficult to determine if car-buying decisions are made based on how fast a car can go, how well it handles, or whether or not it has Bluetooth capability and an MP3 player dock.

Fortunately for Molex, we design, manufacture and sell products that are used in all areas of the car.  We make products that are utilized in engine control modules, such as our UPI products, MX123, CMC and custom hybrid connectors.  These custom products have been utilized in engine and transmission control modules on most of the global car manufacturers’ vehicles for the past two decades.

Molex has products used in car entertainment systems like our Customer Convenience Port (CCP), HSAutoLink™, MOST, Fakra, copper flex circuits and FFC/FPC connectors.  CCP and HSAutoLink are used to optimize the power supply and connectivity to high speed audio, video displays, CD players, DVD players and navigation devices.  CCP custom options include full I/O integration with optional HSAutoLink, USB, SD memory card, HDMI, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, Bluetooth and auxiliary jack media ports.

We also make connectors used in brake modules, transmission modules and steering controls, like MX150™, Stac64™, Mini-Fit® H2O and MOX to name just a few.  MX150 comes in sealed and unsealed versions that deliver superior sealing and electrical performance in low level power applications up to 22 amps.  Designed for direct wire-to-board connections, these connectors are used in high temperature, underhood and chassis systems throughout the vehicle and they perform to the highest automotive standards.  The Stac64 product family offers a stackable, modular housing connector system to gang headers together in telematics, navigation and instrumentation, as well as other applications.  This space-saving header and receptacle system is molded in standard USCAR color schemes and can ship preassembled for ease of assembly.

Regardless of what feature was responsible for motivating an individual to buy a particular car – Chances are good that a Molex product was involved.