5 ms·

I've been thinking of spending some time on an idea for a personal transport vehicle. I can imagine the safety and testing regulations being onerous and everyth

I've been thinking of spending some time on an idea for a personal transport vehicle. I can imagine the safety and testing regulations being onerous and everything else that goes with making and selling any form of automobiles not for the faint of heart. Seeing as how giant cos like Apple and Google are exiting the "making" space of vehicles, is it crazy to even toy with an idea of building a vehicle that moves people?

ocdtrekkie 10y ago
Presumably you'd want to take your idea to a company that values it, and has experience in the safety and testing part. Tesla is not that big, and other smaller car makers have entered the field. It's ludicrous to assume Google doesn't have the power to enter the car market if it wants to, it's influence over government is legendary. It could buy off the regulatory issues, at this point. If Google isn't entering the car market, it's because Google doesn't want to enter the car market. Likely because it's not a high margin industry.
athenot 10y ago
Even Elon Musk admitted it was crazy to take on cars. I suppose it's one of those industries that looks simple from the outside because we're so familiar with the user side, but the manufacturing of which is surprisingly complex.
- blahfuk 10y ago
  As someone who's worked for one of the big 3, the supply chain and logistics is mind-boggling. Not to mention what it takes to create factories that can put out vehicles at the rate of the big guys. I don't think Google or any other software company could compete without completely retooling their entire company. It's not something you can do as a side project.
  - vxNsr 10y ago
    To add to this: when GM tried to copy the Toyota model it took them 20 years and they still went bankrupt.... And now Tesla is using the factory that was created for that original purpose.

5 ms·

I've been thinking of spending some time on an idea for a personal transport vehicle. I can imagine the safety and testing regulations being onerous and everyth

by blizkreeg 10y ago

ocdtrekkie 10y ago
Presumably you'd want to take your idea to a company that values it, and has experience in the safety and testing part. Tesla is not that big, and other smaller car makers have entered the field. It's ludicrous to assume Google doesn't have the power to enter the car market if it wants to, it's influence over government is legendary. It could buy off the regulatory issues, at this point. If Google isn't entering the car market, it's because Google doesn't want to enter the car market. Likely because it's not a high margin industry.
athenot 10y ago
Even Elon Musk admitted it was crazy to take on cars. I suppose it's one of those industries that looks simple from the outside because we're so familiar with the user side, but the manufacturing of which is surprisingly complex.
- blahfuk 10y ago
  As someone who's worked for one of the big 3, the supply chain and logistics is mind-boggling. Not to mention what it takes to create factories that can put out vehicles at the rate of the big guys. I don't think Google or any other software company could compete without completely retooling their entire company. It's not something you can do as a side project.
  - vxNsr 10y ago
    To add to this: when GM tried to copy the Toyota model it took them 20 years and they still went bankrupt.... And now Tesla is using the factory that was created for that original purpose.