- In the collision between consumer technology, cloud computing and cars, the legacy auto companies are lacking key ingredients for the future of the automobile. Here are the vectors for auto disruption.
Of all the misinformed articles I've ever read about car companies, I think this one takes the cake. The author doesn't seem to have even a minimal grasp of how car companies are run, or what, even, the purpose of a car is, and how it differs from the purpose of a computer. Computers, as such, exist as platforms on which to run software. Cars exist to move people and things efficiently. The software only matters insofar as it accomplishes this goal better, faster, cheaper, safer. Being good at making software isn't the same thing as making a car. There's a reason the supplier network is heavily relied upon, and it will be inescapable for any company who wants to make a million cars a year. Things like glue to hold a windshield in place, insulating foam to dampen vibrations, and the leather that wraps the steering wheel all come from somewhere. That's not a product of inefficiency, but the exact opposite.