"Vorsprung durch Technik" or "advance through technology" goes the famous car ad. Not necessarily, in the experience of the Allegemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC), Germany's equivalent of the AA - nearly 50 per cent of its call-outs are for electrical, rather than mechanical problems.
It seems that, in the drive to make vehicles ever safer, more comfortable and more desirable through in-car systems and gadgets, car makers are, in fact, creating a whole new set of problems which are having an adverse affect on the reliability and reputations of their product. Nowhere is this more evident than in Germany, where even prestige makers such as Mercedes and BMW have suffered numerous problems related to onboard electrical systems.
"The proportion of problems due to electronics failure is rising," says ADAC breakdown service chief Helmut Schmaler. "Many of these might not show in our statistics, because most drivers might just take their cars to the garage and these figures, therefore, will not register with us. German cars are supplied with a very high specification of electronic equipment. Therefore, the potential for electrical problems is greater. What isn't there can't go wrong!"
While the upmarket manufacturers might argue that customers' expectations of their products are higher, there is no denying that there have been problems. According to a recent report in Der Spiegel, Mercedes has had significant trouble with a large number of its newest - and highly desirable - E Class models, due to electrical problems. Problems it claims to have now addressed.
BMW too, had teething problems with some of its cars, one of which - according to the article in the German magazine - could have led to a minor diplomatic incident in which the Thai finance minister was held captive in his 5-Series for over 15 minutes due to a fault in the car's central locking system! Anyone who suggests that such a feature - modified for duration and applied to some of our ministerial Mercs - might have a beneficial effect in an Irish context is, of course, being facetious.
There is no doubt, however, that technology has its place on board the modern car. Mercedes in particular (in association with Bosch), has led the way for the industry worldwide in developing groundbreaking - indeed, potentially lifesaving - technologies, such as ABS and ESP; but one wonders if manufacturers in general are maybe getting a bit carried away in the techno-rush, fitting systems to their cars which aren't strictly necessary, aren't tried and tested and also add significantly to production costs.
The malaise is by no means confined exclusively to German automotive producers. While the motor industry in general has been enjoying a reputation for increasing mechanical reliability over recent years, the latest trend would seem to be showing - for now, at least - signs of a reverse.
JD Power and Associates, which carries out a regular and widely respected survey into motor reliability, confirms this. "Customer complaints relating to engines are falling, but those related to electronics - particularly navigation systems - are rising," reports JD company president Stephen Goodall.
Even Japan's Toyota and Honda Motor Company - whose products have an enviable reputation for reliability - saw a rise in complaints in an initial quality survey by JD Power for the first time in 15 years. It led Toyota's senior managing director Hiroyuki Watanabe to state that introducing new technologies "is absolutely pointless if it's going to have a negative impact on quality".
The first step in solving a problem, however, is recognising it exists. In this respect the Germans are taking the lead. On September 25th, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen, along with automotive systems suppliers Bosch, Continental and Siemens VDO, announced the formation of a development partnership called Autosar - Automotive Open System Architecture. The stated aim of this body is to "jointly develop and commercially release a standardized Electrical/Electronic (E/E) architecture concept".
Put simply, the plan is to unify and simplify the development, integration and longevity of electronic system components, which will be common between the different marques. The initiative promises to benefit the German manufacturers in many ways, not least because a common approach between all the parties should ensure more a more concentrated, streamlined development strategy. This should end the fragmented approach that exists presently, with different concerns vying to outdo each other to make their cars the most advanced on the road - each new model's introduction presenting the pressure of a new deadline that must be met.
One imagines that there should also be cost benefits for the consumer, as the burden of research, development and production would be shared, rather than each maker going it alone with its own individual approach.
Most importantly, though, is that this new departure should benefit us all by ensuring that the ever-burgeoning array of available automotive technology is used to enhance - as intended - the driving experience; allowing us to enjoy the seamless application of its very real benefits now, and well into the future.