Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Bob Lutz Sees A Grim Future For the Automobile

      When did Bob Lutz become Nostradamus?

    Whenever Bob Lutz speaks, many people tend to listen as he a number of years of being in the automotive industry under his belt. Recently, Lutz wrote an editorial for Automotive News' Redesigning the Industry where he predicts we are “approaching the end of the automotive era,” within the next 20 years.

    “The end state will be the fully autonomous module with no capability for the driver to exercise command. You will call for it, it will arrive at your location, you’ll get in, input your destination and go to the freeway On the freeway, it will merge seamlessly into a stream of other modules traveling at 120, 150 mph. The speed doesn’t matter. You have a blending of rail-type with individual transportation,” Lutz wrote.

    Lutz sees governments pushing for a 'no-human-drivers' mandate when it becomes clear that self-driving vehicles are much safer than vehicles operated by humans.

    "The tipping point will come when 20 to 30 percent of vehicles are fully autonomous. Countries will look at the accident statistics and figure out that human drivers are causing 99.9 percent of the accidents."

    This according to Lutz will have catastrophic effects for the industry. Most of the driverless pods will be owned, operated and branded as "Uber or Lyft or who-ever else is competing in the market." Many automakers will be forced out of the business as people turn to sharing and not owning a vehicle. Some will remain, but acting as a supplier. Other parts of the business such as dealers, repair shops, and enthusiast magazines will fade away.

    "The era of the human-driven automobile, its repair facilities, its dealerships, the media surrounding it — all will be gone in 20 years."

    We're not fully on board with Lutz's train of thought. The time frame is a bit too soon as we are still on the ground floor when it comes to autonomous technology and the numerous hurdles that still need to be overcome. Plus, how will this driverless pod system work in rural areas?

    That isn't to say it will not happen. Elements of Lutz's viewpoint are coming into focus. For example, Waymo will not have any way for a human to intervene in emergency situations. 

    We highly recommend reading this piece.

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

    • Agree 1
    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Robert Hall
    1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

    For the record, again, I dont feel like that is a "G6". Just because Pontiac decided to go alphanumerics on us...

    For myself, and you too I guess, a G6 is NOT a G6 but a Grand Am.

    So...all this talk...is for nada. We are back to square one! :dizzy:

    The G8 would have been cool badged as a Grand Prix or Bonneville...

    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    A Horse With No Name
    3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    I dunno... I could have easily gone with a Bonneville, but there was always an Aurora in the same showroom that would grab my attention first. 

    I loved both from that era.

    3 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    The G8 would have been cool badged as a Grand Prix or Bonneville...

    A G8 with a full line up including convertible and Ute truck...yeah!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    oldshurst442
    8 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    The G8 would have been cool badged as a Grand Prix or Bonneville...

    I see the G8 as a Grand Prix.

    Speaking of which, I saw a G8 today.

    Just the V6. Red. It looked gooooooood.

    Not too many of themm left in my neck of the woods. :(

    Edited by oldshurst442
    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ocnblu
    9 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

    I see the G8 as a Grand Prix.

    Speaking of which, I saw a G8 today.

    Just the V6. Red. It looked gooooooood.

    Not too many of themm left in my neck of the woods. :(

    We just had a V6 G8 in our shop.  Red.  Ridden hard and put away wet.  I was mad.

    And another thing... as has already been stated in here... people are morons when it comes to car maintenance, and they are progressively being weaned off of learning anything about what it really means to own a car.  We are going to see Bolts and Leaves, etc. and of the ilk riding around with bald/flat tires, windshields scratched by rubberless wiper blades, empty washer tanks, paper thin brake rotors, etc. ... because they have the idear stuck in their heads that they don't need to stop at service stations... they've been set free from MAINTAINING their cars!

     

    Edited by ocnblu
    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    6 hours ago, ocnblu said:

    We just had a V6 G8 in our shop.  Red.  Ridden hard and put away wet.  I was mad.

    And another thing... as has already been stated in here... people are morons when it comes to car maintenance, and they are progressively being weaned off of learning anything about what it really means to own a car.  We are going to see Bolts and Leaves, etc. and of the ilk riding around with bald/flat tires, windshields scratched by rubberless wiper blades, empty washer tanks, paper thin brake rotors, etc. ... because they have the idear stuck in their heads that they don't need to stop at service stations... they've been set free from MAINTAINING their cars!

     

    Already have that with idiot ICE owners. Cannot say how many lovely auto's are destroyed by morons especially it would seem catholics and mormons with their minivans full of family and yet rubber half way ripped on the wiper scratching the windows lack of any respect. 

    In this regards many people today see an auto regardless of the powertrain as a simple disposable appliance for getting from point A to point B.

    I feel it is only those of us that have a passion for the auto industry and sports car fans that seem to take care of their auto. Otherwise, less maintenance is good, as you pointed out, just changing windshield wipers seems to be a challenge let alone proper air in the tires and changing them once you hit 10% tread left.

    I see so many idiot auto's with bald tires. The Hotel I stayed at in North Carolina, Marriott at Triangle Research Park had bald tires on it and I pointed it out and the driver said not my problem or responsibility. So I told the manager when I got there that if a tire blows and I am in it, I will sue them. Interesting that it was gone later that day and the next day I saw it had new tires on it.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    A Horse With No Name
    8 hours ago, ocnblu said:

    We just had a V6 G8 in our shop.  Red.  Ridden hard and put away wet.  I was mad.

    And another thing... as has already been stated in here... people are morons when it comes to car maintenance, and they are progressively being weaned off of learning anything about what it really means to own a car.  We are going to see Bolts and Leaves, etc. and of the ilk riding around with bald/flat tires, windshields scratched by rubberless wiper blades, empty washer tanks, paper thin brake rotors, etc. ... because they have the idear stuck in their heads that they don't need to stop at service stations... they've been set free from MAINTAINING their cars!

     

    Your argument is non unique.  People were doing that in the early 1970s when I first started to get interested in cars.

    2 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Already have that with idiot ICE owners. Cannot say how many lovely auto's are destroyed by morons especially it would seem catholics and mormons with their minivans full of family and yet rubber half way ripped on the wiper scratching the windows lack of any respect. 

    In this regards many people today see an auto regardless of the powertrain as a simple disposable appliance for getting from point A to point B.

    I feel it is only those of us that have a passion for the auto industry and sports car fans that seem to take care of their auto. Otherwise, less maintenance is good, as you pointed out, just changing windshield wipers seems to be a challenge let alone proper air in the tires and changing them once you hit 10% tread left.

    I see so many idiot auto's with bald tires. The Hotel I stayed at in North Carolina, Marriott at Triangle Research Park had bald tires on it and I pointed it out and the driver said not my problem or responsibility. So I told the manager when I got there that if a tire blows and I am in it, I will sue them. Interesting that it was gone later that day and the next day I saw it had new tires on it.

    Sadly threatening legal action is the only way to get people to change some times.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ocnblu
    1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    The Hotel I stayed at in North Carolina, Marriott at Triangle Research Park had bald tires on it...

     

    It's even worse than I thought if the HOTEL had bald tires on it!  :o

    • Haha 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    A Horse With No Name
    2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

     

    It's even worse than I thought if the HOTEL had bald tires on it!  :o

    Actually Dfelt had a van with bald tires, i had bed bugs and a gang member in a hotel threatening havoc...I am going to get intimately comfortable with my couch when i get home.

    Although my middle daughter just texted me that my cat is bleeding from the mouth so i may be going to the Veterinary ER room

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    3 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    Actually Dfelt had a van with bald tires, i had bed bugs and a gang member in a hotel threatening havoc...I am going to get intimately comfortable with my couch when i get home.

    Although my middle daughter just texted me that my cat is bleeding from the mouth so i may be going to the Veterinary ER room

    OUCH, wishing you all the best for the family cat. Dog person myself, but the animals are a family member and it sucks when they are hurt. Hope all goes well for you.

    5 hours ago, ocnblu said:

     

    It's even worse than I thought if the HOTEL had bald tires on it!  :o

    Yea, was one of those Fold extended vans with fronts slicks on, Figure they must have been racing it at the track. :P;) 

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×

  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • G. David Felt
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • G. David Felt
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
    • oldshurst442
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

      Not just iPhones... He tariffed Canadian wood the first time around as Pres and the prices of wood skyrocketed so American home builders bought American wood which was and is more expensive than Canadian wood.  I guess that is good for American wood producers. But for the fact that house prices also skyrocketed.  And considering that Canada and US have a more or less good trading thing going on...so not that good.  Not for the US and not good for Canada.  But Donald thinks otherwise. And all the folk that voted for him this time around think that the economy will get better?  I hope so for their sake. But Elon and Jeff B's billions rose quite a bit upon the announcement of his re-election.  I wonder if those  people that voted for him, I wonder if their wealth also rose instantly?    You poor bastards... You have no idea what is coming to you... (those that voted for him.  With the excemption of the rich of course)     Donnie Rides Again
    • oldshurst442
      Airplanes

      By oldshurst442 · Posted

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search