These systems are not the cause.
The cause is that vehicles are mostly made out of aluminum (to save weight due to strict CAFE standards) now, and the costs of the bodywork skyrockets due to how hard it is to weld aluminum.
Aluminium is less forgiving to errors (such as too much heat) while welding especially on thin body panels.
Then there are the crumple zones that are designed to absorb the force of a crash. And the increased use of unibody designs as opposed to body on frame.
It is a combination...as you mentioned “CAFE” fuel economy standards have added to repair cost (aluminum panels, etc.) and CAFE stds. have caused plastic headlights that cloud up (glass is too heavy), plastic bumpers, lightweight brake rotors that cannot be “turned” more than maybe once (have to buy new), etc....but “ADAS” type systems have also caused a massive increase in initial new car/truck cost. Starting with things like government mandated back-up cameras....more in this list:
- Model year 2011. The NHTSA recommended FCW, lane-departure warning and electronic stability control (ESC) for points in NCAP ratings. ESC became a mandate for model year 2012.
- Model years 2014–2017. The NHTSA recommended rear backup video for NCAP ratings. It became a mandate in model year 2018.
- November 2015. The NHTSA recommended AEB for NCAP ratings.
- December 2015. The NHTSA released a key report with extensive information on AEB, FCW and blind-spot detection. This type of report is called a request for comments (RFC), and it is used when the NHTSA wants feedback from the auto industry.
- The NHTSA made a voluntary agreement with most auto OEMs to include AEB in all light vehicles sold by 2022.
- Spring 2021. The NHTSA announced its intention to make AEB a mandate as an FMVSS.
- March 2022. The NHTSA released its most important RFC, with extensive information and future plans on ADAS technology. The RFC had 236 pages and included a 10-year roadmap for ADAS, NCAP and future rating systems.
- May 2023. The first result of the 2022 RFC was announced with a mandate for FCW, AEB and PAEB.
Now Biden/Pete “Buttiejudge” want mandated ADAS drunk driving attention detection tech with a “kill switch”.
So the government mandated systems add thousands to the price of new vehicles and add thousands to the price to repair them. In addition to the CAFE standards costs.
“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” —President Ronald Reagan