Since the invention of the automobile, silvery chrome has added to the elegance – and sometimes bling – of our cars. But is that unique glinting in the sun going to disappear for ever in the near future?
Perhaps so, as more and more manufacturers are choosing to eliminate chrome on new car models in response to health and environmental concerns.
Stellantis, the automaker behind brands like Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Maserati, is the latest to announce plans to phase out chrome on all its new models. This initiative, termed “Death of Chrome,” addresses environmental and health concerns related to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogenic agent used in chrome plating. The California Air Resources Board highlights hexavalent chromium as a highly toxic air contaminant, 500 times more dangerous than diesel exhaust.
Stellantis will replace chrome with alternative materials like polished stainless steel, satin steel,and various toned finishes. These alternatives are undergoing trials on special edition models and are said to have received favorable consumer responses. The upcoming Jeep Wagoneer S electric SUV for example will feature these new materials without chrome.
1950s cars like this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Classic were covered with chrome.
But the alternatives will be a little duller and less shiny than real chrome. So we will no longer see quite such an ostentatious sparkling arrival of cars like the road-boats of yesteryear.
Chrome use peaked in the 1950s on American cars, with extravagant applications on bumpers and grills. However, modern cars have significantly reduced chrome usage, simplifying vehicle designs over time.
Other automakers, including Volkswagen Group, are also exploring alternatives and using innovative finishes and lighting to replace chrome. Volkswagen has already integrated glowing badges and logos on some models, removing all parts that were previously chrome.
