For almost a century, car companies have been constructing life-size clay models for the vehicles we see on the roads. However, creating these models is a costly process, with luxury brands admitting to spending over $650,000 for just one model. Despite the high expense, some companies continue to use up to 100 tons of clay annually for this purpose. The video discusses the process of making clay car models, the reasons behind their high cost, and why companies still opt to use them.