It’s not over engineering. It’s planned obsolescence. 2000-2005, German automakers took on a whole new business plan. No longer selling lifetime aspirational cars, switching to rented cars (or what douches call leasing) with a short second life, then to the junkyard. They built a business around the US culture of fake it until you make it and deep consumer debt. Today, we all know people driving $100k cars are still living paycheck to paycheck.

This was accomplished with engine plastics of known heat cycle durability, then “luxury” pricing that meant justifying prices with pointless gadgetry highlighted by auto “reviewers”, who are not allowed to talk about long term reliability. Then along came Musk, with cars that are cheaper to make than ICE, so again, make them into rolling Best buys because American consumers love anything with a touch screen. Tesla then had the largest profit margins in the industry, while any of those gadgets or motorized switches could brick a car. Seeing success for BMW, AUDI, all others adopted this model.

Of course, the plan only augmented and wasn’t sustainable, as their cars now barely last until the lease is up, and people just aren’t buying.

I would argue they’re intentionally getting more likely to break. Or at least that is no longer a concern. It’s straight up a benefit to some companies.