4 ms·

They can't innovate but once other people innovate they can copy and buy up their technology and commercialize it more successfully. With self-driving cars the

They can't innovate but once other people innovate they can copy and buy up their technology and commercialize it more successfully. With self-driving cars the tech is only phase one. The legal/regulatory/social issues come next and that is where a company like GM with all of its political connections can really press their advantage. Even a company like Google is small time compared to GM when it comes to lobbying and political power with all of the unions, dealers, suppliers, trade associations, etc they have built up over a 100 years.

cmrdporcupine 9y ago
GM has been innovating just fine in the EV segment, with the Volt, Spark EV, and now the Bolt. All three were extremely well engineered and relatively affordable -- if not as 'hip' as a Tesla. And designed mostly in house (the Bolt owes a lot to LG) I'm fairly impressed. I'm sure like most BigCorps it's not a fun or terrible nimble place to work, but it seems like they've got at least some aspects of their engineering culture figured out.
- ams6110 9y ago
  I'm surprised and a little disappointed that Ford hasn't done more. They have the EV version of the Focus but AFAIK it's only sold in California. Edit: 2018MY Focus Electric is a limited production model sold in select states (CA/CT/MA/MD/ME/NJ/NY/OR/RI/VT) at Ford EV Certified Dealers https://www.ford.com/cars/focus/models/focus-electric/?intcmp=fueleff-featcta-focus-electric https://www.ford.com/cars/focus/models/focus-electric/?intcm...
  - freehunter 9y ago
    Especially considering how quick they hopped on the hybrid concept, making hybrid versions of quite a few of their cars and SUVs, quite early on.
  - cmrdporcupine 9y ago
    Yes, they have been very tepid (only selling in CARB type states) and actually the quality of their EVs is subpar -- no active battery temperature management, low range. They're making noises about improving, but then they go and do the opposite.
- saas_co_de 9y ago
  > Volt Toyota Prius, a decade later. > Bolt A Prius with batteries. Oh my, I can't take all this innovation. > relatively affordable Because the billions in losses are paid for by other GM customers and taxpayers.

cmrdporcupine 9y ago

GM has been innovating just fine in the EV segment, with the Volt, Spark EV, and now the Bolt. All three were extremely well engineered and relatively affordable -- if not as 'hip' as a Tesla. And designed mostly in house (the Bolt owes a lot to LG) I'm fairly impressed. I'm sure like most BigCorps it's not a fun or terrible nimble place to work, but it seems like they've got at least some aspects of their engineering culture figured out.

ams6110 9y ago
I'm surprised and a little disappointed that Ford hasn't done more. They have the EV version of the Focus but AFAIK it's only sold in California. Edit: 2018MY Focus Electric is a limited production model sold in select states (CA/CT/MA/MD/ME/NJ/NY/OR/RI/VT) at Ford EV Certified Dealers https://www.ford.com/cars/focus/models/focus-electric/?intcmp=fueleff-featcta-focus-electric https://www.ford.com/cars/focus/models/focus-electric/?intcm...
- freehunter 9y ago
  Especially considering how quick they hopped on the hybrid concept, making hybrid versions of quite a few of their cars and SUVs, quite early on.
- cmrdporcupine 9y ago
  Yes, they have been very tepid (only selling in CARB type states) and actually the quality of their EVs is subpar -- no active battery temperature management, low range. They're making noises about improving, but then they go and do the opposite.
saas_co_de 9y ago
> Volt Toyota Prius, a decade later. > Bolt A Prius with batteries. Oh my, I can't take all this innovation. > relatively affordable Because the billions in losses are paid for by other GM customers and taxpayers.