Today's WSJ and the need for European manufacturers to adapt to the coming self-driving car to survive.

Edited 6 January, 201610 yr by Ryeman

Astonishing the ignorance displayed on here about TESLA, it has never made a profit, as for being the future, it's a complete irrelevance that will only ever be remembered for a few extreme executive toys.

 

http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/10/tesla-is-hemorrhaging-money-despite-millions-in-govt-subsidies/

^^^^^ that's what they said about the first car......man carrying a red flag.....stuff like that.

They haven't even started.

Some interesting post by the OP leading into this discussion.

 

One thing I did see today on an internal work site was a news bulletin stating 'Autonomous driving - the most exciting thing about the car industry' it was at this point I shouted in outrage that this is not the most exciting thing about the car industry but in fact something only SOME end customers will want. 

 

I do fear that the current generation of 16-18year olds neither want nor need to own their own car, however I do occasionally meet the younger car enthusiast but they definitely seem alot rarer than we were 10-15 years ago.

 

Tesla as a whole have done something other larger OEMs just wished for with the range of their model S and not only that the Model S is something that appeals to even the automotive enthusiast along with the eco nut. I personally would happily accept the keys - but buy one with my own money? Not a chance whilst internal combustion is around; I'd sooner have several 2015 mustang V8's for the price of the Tesla and go for a session at Rockingham with some friends.

I'd accept max torque from 0 revs any day.

Everything is changing and car nut like us are a dying breed.

I'd accept max torque from 0 revs any day.

 

Oh me too.

 

I've driven some powerful electric motors and spaceframe electric vehicles and the sensation is very nice however I would miss the noise, the smell and the overall feel. That just can't be synthesised. 

Oh me too.

 

I've driven some powerful electric motors and spaceframe electric vehicles and the sensation is very nice however I would miss the noise, the smell and the overall feel. That just can't be synthesised.

Sigh....

I remember those days too.

Self driving cars are inevitable, and will make driving much safer for the majority of people.

The idea of letting the car do the driving on motorways and boring roads, then taking over on the fun twisty bits is quite attractive. Or letting the car drive you home when you're tired/full of beer.

Maybe they'll build more racetracks for those of us who like to actually drive?

 

It won't be good for taxi firms though.

 

And car ownership will eventually reduce. It'll take a long time. But it will get to the point where there's no need to own a car if you can order one up for a journey like a personal taxi.

I draw the line at automatics.. you're not driving a car if your only options are stop pedal, go pedal and left or right.... its like a 1980's computer game... may aswell get the bus!

 

Good idea in the city, trying to drive through a city centre is like farting in a crowded lift, nobody wants to be there, everyone's too close, you have to just tighten up and watch out for tailgaters........

^^^^^ that's what they said about the first car......man carrying a red flag.....stuff like that.

They haven't even started.

and yesterday (if your enabled) you could wake up to find  a free upgrade which enables parallel parking and the ability to open the garage door and put it'self  "to bed" :clap:      makes some well known manufacturers who want a fortune to upgrade your factory fitted sat-nav  (a CD)?    look like a bunch of money grabbing cheap skates    Discuss :peek:

and yesterday (if your enabled) you could wake up to find  a free upgrade which enables parallel parking and the ability to open the garage door and put it'self  "to bed" :clap:      makes some well known manufacturers who want a fortune to upgrade your factory fitted sat-nav  (a CD)?    look like a bunch of money grabbing cheap skates    Discuss :peek:

Absolutely!

The updating of your maps is a sick joke.

BMW have developed a driverless car and phone app to enable you to be dropped off at the mall, it then goes away and parks itself and then when you're ready you call it up and it picks you up out the front.

Having experienced the parking situation at St Ives etc, I can see a need for it.

Once all the 'driverless' laws have been passed I guess they'll press the go button.