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Ironically, GM had the first EV that was positively received by its owners; that didn't look like a golf cart or a toy. Then recalled and destroyed them all. A

Ironically, GM had the first EV that was positively received by its owners; that didn't look like a golf cart or a toy. Then recalled and destroyed them all. A decade before Tesla had produced the first Roadster models. They could have been the market leader, with a 10 year head start on everyone else. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

neartheplain 5y ago
Not to mention the Chevy Volt, GM's popular and successful plug-in hybrid line which they abruptly terminated in 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt
- bsder 5y ago
  I have a Volt, love it, and hate them for terminating it. However, the Bolt is stupidly cheaper to manufacture. Probably even with this recall, it's still going to be cheaper.
- barney54 5y ago
  Yes, but we’re they making any money on the Volt?
ashleyn 5y ago
I'm noticing a theme here. Sears owned Prodigy in the eighties, only to face certain bankruptcy because they were unable to adapt to the subsequent Internet.
- rasz 5y ago
  Sears actually ran Amazon like online shopping thru Prodigy, so its not like they didnt try https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-19-fi-581-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-19-fi-581-st... Iv seen one video of this service in action recorded by some local access TV morning show once, but cant find it anymore :( It was all text based, but apparently featured all products available thru paper catalogs.
jdlshore 5y ago
It's a classic example of a Christensen disruption. The disruptive technologies are often pioneered or even invented by "old guard" companies, but they ironically fail to capitalize on the invention, and eventually fall by the wayside as they're surpassed by younger upstarts. It's been a while since I read the book ("The Innovator's Dilemma—a classic!), but IIRC, Christensen disruptions are characterized by: - worse performance, but... - better reliability and other characteristics, thus requiring... - new markets to be developed that can use the technology, resulting in... - steady improvement, leading to... - cannibalizing the old technology "from below" as the new technology's performance becomes good enough to take over the old market, resulting in... - the old sellers fleeing "up market" to higher margin, higher demand customers, ironically creating some of their best sales years, but... - the disruptive technology marches on, continuing to erode the old technology's performance advantage, until finally... - the old technology disappears and the old sellers have nothing to sell, and... - the old sellers die. The old sellers have trouble embracing the new technology because of the complex existing relationships with middle management, suppliers, and customers. It's not blindness—it's a major cultural upheaval, and it's almost impossible to overcome. Electric drive trains (mainly engines + batteries + chargers) appear to fit the definition of a disruptive technology perfectly. I think companies like GM and Toyota are in trouble.
- vgeek 5y ago
  This is a great book that everyone should read at least once.
- mixmastamyk 5y ago
  Yes, like how Kodak invented a digital camera only to later be done in by it.
neom 5y ago
EV1 is cool, thanks for sharing that. I found this in-depth review of the car on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLknNrrL6QU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLknNrrL6QU

neartheplain 5y ago

Not to mention the Chevy Volt, GM's popular and successful plug-in hybrid line which they abruptly terminated in 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt

bsder 5y ago
I have a Volt, love it, and hate them for terminating it. However, the Bolt is stupidly cheaper to manufacture. Probably even with this recall, it's still going to be cheaper.
barney54 5y ago
Yes, but we’re they making any money on the Volt?

ashleyn 5y ago

I'm noticing a theme here. Sears owned Prodigy in the eighties, only to face certain bankruptcy because they were unable to adapt to the subsequent Internet.

rasz 5y ago
Sears actually ran Amazon like online shopping thru Prodigy, so its not like they didnt try https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-19-fi-581-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-19-fi-581-st... Iv seen one video of this service in action recorded by some local access TV morning show once, but cant find it anymore :( It was all text based, but apparently featured all products available thru paper catalogs.

jdlshore 5y ago

It's a classic example of a Christensen disruption. The disruptive technologies are often pioneered or even invented by "old guard" companies, but they ironically fail to capitalize on the invention, and eventually fall by the wayside as they're surpassed by younger upstarts. It's been a while since I read the book ("The Innovator's Dilemma—a classic!), but IIRC, Christensen disruptions are characterized by: - worse performance, but... - better reliability and other characteristics, thus requiring... - new markets to be developed that can use the technology, resulting in... - steady improvement, leading to... - cannibalizing the old technology "from below" as the new technology's performance becomes good enough to take over the old market, resulting in... - the old sellers fleeing "up market" to higher margin, higher demand customers, ironically creating some of their best sales years, but... - the disruptive technology marches on, continuing to erode the old technology's performance advantage, until finally... - the old technology disappears and the old sellers have nothing to sell, and... - the old sellers die. The old sellers have trouble embracing the new technology because of the complex existing relationships with middle management, suppliers, and customers. It's not blindness—it's a major cultural upheaval, and it's almost impossible to overcome. Electric drive trains (mainly engines + batteries + chargers) appear to fit the definition of a disruptive technology perfectly. I think companies like GM and Toyota are in trouble.

vgeek 5y ago
This is a great book that everyone should read at least once.
mixmastamyk 5y ago
Yes, like how Kodak invented a digital camera only to later be done in by it.

neom 5y ago

EV1 is cool, thanks for sharing that. I found this in-depth review of the car on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLknNrrL6QU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLknNrrL6QU