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This is why I think the major "car companies" of the future won't be the current "auto companies", but the current major tech companies. The "tech" part is goin

This is why I think the major "car companies" of the future won't be the current "auto companies", but the current major tech companies. The "tech" part is going to become increasingly a bigger competitive advantage, while the "auto" part will be completely commoditized, and you'll see current car companies going bankrupt or being bought out by the major tech companies. I think Tesla is mostly part of the "tech companies" than the auto companies.

noir_lord 12y ago
> while the "auto" part will be completely commoditized To some extent this is already the case with some manufacturers, many models across a range are built on a consistent platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_platform There is a point where physical improvements on platforms are well into diminishing returns and the bigger improvements are in software and control (the classic "software is eating the world" thing applies here). I don't have a problem with this but I suspect the automotive industry might ;)
zenbowman 12y ago
Just to clarify, it seems that by "tech companies" you mean "software companies". I think it is a little funny that a company like AirBnB would qualify as a tech company (even though I would classify it as a travel agency that uses technology) whereas GM would not (I would consider GM an out and out tech company). But I agree that software will have more of an impact on vehicle sales performance in the future, I'm only objecting to the idea that software=tech.
mempko 12y ago
Yet, the car company who is bringing electric to the masses is the likes of Nissan. Even how software is made via things like lean software development, scrum, and some agile practices are rooted in the Toyota production system. Companies like Toyota in their very culture is lean, not bloated. Even Google, despite all the diverse projects, only knows how to make money one way. Toyota group is far more diverse. Also car companies in japan are heavily invested in robots. So there is plenty of disruptive tech happening there.

noir_lord 12y ago

> while the "auto" part will be completely commoditized To some extent this is already the case with some manufacturers, many models across a range are built on a consistent platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_platform There is a point where physical improvements on platforms are well into diminishing returns and the bigger improvements are in software and control (the classic "software is eating the world" thing applies here). I don't have a problem with this but I suspect the automotive industry might ;)

zenbowman 12y ago

Just to clarify, it seems that by "tech companies" you mean "software companies". I think it is a little funny that a company like AirBnB would qualify as a tech company (even though I would classify it as a travel agency that uses technology) whereas GM would not (I would consider GM an out and out tech company). But I agree that software will have more of an impact on vehicle sales performance in the future, I'm only objecting to the idea that software=tech.

mempko 12y ago

Yet, the car company who is bringing electric to the masses is the likes of Nissan. Even how software is made via things like lean software development, scrum, and some agile practices are rooted in the Toyota production system. Companies like Toyota in their very culture is lean, not bloated. Even Google, despite all the diverse projects, only knows how to make money one way. Toyota group is far more diverse. Also car companies in japan are heavily invested in robots. So there is plenty of disruptive tech happening there.