Car interior design refers to the looks and placement of the features inside a vehicle. Car companies have a head interior designer that manages a team of people that follows the head designer's concept to complete the inside of a vehicle. A functional, yet attractive interior is an important selling feature for all vehicles, but buyers of expensive luxury cars especially expect well-designed car interiors.
Interior design for cars includes everything from the type of fabric used to cover the seats to the location of gauges on the instrument panel. Safety must be a prime concern in car interior design. Car interior designers must be sure all elements follow safety laws and guidelines. For example, carpeting must be low pile enough so that brake and gas pedals can't catch in it. Not considering such an important design detail could lead to drivers having serious car accidents.
In terms of the look and feel of the car's interior design, it should coordinate well with the vehicle's outer style and overall price point. For instance, a car buyer looking at economy family cars would expect to find a basic, purely practical interior, while a person seeking to buy a trendy sports car would expect an innovative car interior design in a sporty, modern style. An expensive luxury car wouldn't sell well if it had cheap vinyl seats rather than seating made from quality leather or a rich fabric. No matter what type of car, vehicle designers must keep their ideas in line with the times. Decades ago, small ashtrays located on the armrests in car interiors were much in demand, while today many car buyers prefer good cup holders.
No detail can be overlooked when it comes to car interior design — especially where safety is concerned. The center console and instrument panels must be easily accessible to the driver. A global positioning system (GPS) used to navigate the car to find a desired location must be mounted on the dash board to be easily seen by the driver. The location of the mechanism to turn the windshield wipers should be easy for the driver to reach. Even small decisions such as whether the air conditioning vents are better left stationary or positioned to swivel for increased cooling effects on the driver and passengers must be made by head designers of car interior design.