A frame assembly for an open roof assembly comprises a first beam, a second beam and a panel. The first beam and the second beam are mechanically coupled in a joint area, thereby forming a seam. A sealant is provided in the joint area for providing a liquid-tight joint. The panel is at least partly arranged over the first beam and the second beam such that the joint area is at least partly overlapped by the panel. An adhesive bead is solely provided on the first beam for supporting the panel on the first beam, the adhesive bead sealing a dry area between the first beam and the panel.

A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a unitarily-formed polymeric bed box including a bulkhead panel, an elongate reinforcement including a spine, and a row of rivet nuts securing the reinforcement to the bulkhead panel in an unconcealed manner. The reinforcement is backed against the bulkhead panel from outside the bed box. The rivet nuts are installed to the bulkhead panel against the reinforcement facing inside the bed box.

Connections between nodes and tubes are provided. An apparatus can include additively manufactured first and second nodes, a tube, and an interconnect connecting the tube to the first and second nodes. An apparatus can include a node having an end portion with inner and outer concentric portions forming an annular gap therebetween, and a tube having an end portion extending into the gap.

A structural panel joining part for a vehicle having an underbody hold-down panel, a floor panel, a dash panel, and a cowl side panel includes an underbody coupling first portion configured to couple to at least one of the underbody hold-down panel and the floor panel, a dash panel coupling second portion configured to couple to the dash panel, and a cowl side coupling third portion configured to couple to the cowl side panel. The structural panel joining part maintains structural integrity between the underbody hold-down panel, the floor panel, the dash panel, and the cowl side panel to provide structural reinforcement during small overlap rigid barrier impacts to facilitate reducing structural intrusion into an occupant compartment of the vehicle.

A vehicle chassis is provided. The vehicle chassis may comprise one or more vehicle chassis modules or chassis substructures that are formed from a plurality of customized chassis nodes and connecting tubes. The customized chassis nodes and connecting tubes may be formed of one or more metal and/or non-metal materials. The customized chassis nodes may be formed with connecting features to which additional vehicle panels or structures may be permanently or removeably attached. The vehicle chassis modules or chassis substructures may be interchangeably and removeably connected to provide a vehicle chassis having a set of predetermined chassis safety or performance characteristics.

A method for producing a motor vehicle that includes producing and painting a bodyshell having a platform composed of metal and a vehicle body composed of metal which is configured for placement on the platform, producing and painting a main floor composed of metal separately from a remainder of the bodyshell, and attaching the main floor to the previously painted platform and/or the previously painted vehicle body.

A structural reinforcement, utilized to reinforce a structural joint of a vehicle, and method of reinforcing a structural joint of a vehicle. The structural reinforcement having a clamshell structure comprising two complimentary halves. The structural reinforcement further comprising an activatable composition.

A method of joining first and second vehicle components to make an assembly includes applying structural adhesive and mastic to the first component. The first and second component may be made of different metals, and are brought together and joined at an interface using a linkage. Thereafter, the structural adhesive and mastic are cured. The mastic seals an interior edge of the interface, which is located at an interior of the assembly. A dust sealer is applied and cured to seal the exterior edge of the interface, which is located at an exterior of the assembly. The method results in sealing of all the edges around the entire perimeter of the interface, thus inhibiting water intrusion into the interface and possible corrosion resulting therefrom.

Apparatus for a tray deck for providing a selectable appearance outer surface for at least one component of the tray deck, the apparatus including for the at least one component a component substrate (902) including a plurality of connectors (907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, and 914) for accepting a plurality of complementary connectors (922, 924, 926) on a panel (900) having a selected appearance for connection to the component substrate, wherein the panel, when connected to the component substrate, comprises at least part of the surface presenting outwardly of the tray deck, wherein each of the plurality of connectors on the component substrate includes an elongate protrusion (907, 909, 911) depending outwardly from the component substrate and along an edge of the elongate protrusion distal from the component substrate each connector including an elongate grooved connector (908, 910, 912), the elongate grooved connector configured to accept a complementary elongate projection (922, 924, 926) of the panel.

A control arm includes a wheel side end, a body side end, a first connecting member extending between the wheel side end and the body side end, a second connecting member extending between the wheel side end and the body side end, and having a reduced section portion, and a fracture zone extending through the first and second connecting members in a substantially fore-aft direction of the vehicle, the reduced section portion being within the fracture zone. A thickness of the reduced section portion is tunable to establish a controlled fracturing during a small overlap rigid barrier impact event where: (i) an initial fracture of the first connecting member occurs within the fracture zone, and (ii) a secondary fracture of the second connecting member occurs within the fracture zone at the reduced section portion, to thereby provide a desired rearward trajectory of the wheel assembly during the impact event.