How many parts in a car?

Answer 1

I have read that it's about 15000 to 20000 but I believe this refers most likely to things that a mechanic or parts-man would consider to be "parts" but which would each contain many, many parts themselves.

I would really like to know how many discrete components there are if one broke it down to individual manufacturing steps. For argument's sake I would accept, for example, that an old fashioned glass tube fuse could be considered one part, not four; but a CV joint or a fuel pump or an emissions computer are definitely not just one part each. I suspect that the answer from this point of view would be much larger, probably 10 or even 100 times.

If someone could answer this I would really appreciate it and I would also like to know how many there are in a modern car compared to one of 30 or more years ago.