4 ms·
I think one of the underdiscussed things is how in the last couple of decades industries like car manufacturing have become steadily more state controlled. Tod
by SilverBirch 10mo ago
I think one of the underdiscussed things is how in the last couple of decades industries like car manufacturing have become steadily more state controlled.
Today, to be a successful car company you need to be producing cars whose safety features are incredibly tightly regulated by government bodies to the point of doing actively user hostile things (try and get a new car in the UK that won't actively beep at you for going faster than it thinks you should drive).
You need to be producing them at government mandated price levels (cars listed for more than £40k pay an additional £2.5 tax, except electric vehicles for whom the tax only kicks in at £50).
You need to be using a propulsion method approved by government, not only the Euro 6 emissions standards, but also the labyrinthine Benefit in Kind regulations that accidentally gave every small business owner massive incentives to buy a Porsche Taycan.
Oh and on top of that the UK government runs a charity that purchases 20% of all the new cars sold in the UK each year (with that number climbing to 50% in Northern Ireland).
- spacebanana7 10mo agoWhat makes it worse is that governments are doing this somewhat unintentionally. The US CAFE standards that effectively push large turbocharged vehicles were never intended to do so, the UK salary sacrifice rules were never intended to push PHEV range rovers, and the European emissions rules were never intended to be so harsh on Toyota hybrids.
- convenwis 10mo agoCAFE also had the unintended consequence of helping SUVs because as "trucks" they didn't count against manufacturers.
- 7bit 10mo agoWhat a great thing, right?
- pipes 10mo agoWhat is that scheme called? (The gov buying new cars one I mean).
- doctorshady 10mo ago> (try and get a new car in the UK that won't actively beep at you for going faster than it thinks you should drive) This is a thing now? Is this at least a UK-specific "feature"?
- scrlk 10mo agoIt's an EU regulation: > All new motor vehicles, including cars, vans, trucks, and buses now need to integrate intelligent speed assistance solutions, cameras, or sensors for reversing detection, attention warnings in case of driver drowsiness, as well as emergency stop signals. In addition, cars and vans should now be equipped with lane keeping and automated braking systems and event data recorders. To prevent bus or truck collisions with pedestrians or cyclists, these vehicles now require technologies for better recognising possible blind spots and integrate warning systems, as well as have specific tyre pressure monitoring systems. https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/mandatory-drivers-assistance-systems-expected-help-save-over-25000-lives-2038-2024-07-05_en https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/mandatory-dr...