It’s one of General Motors CEO, Mary Barra’s most iconic quotes. And we’ll paraphrase it: there will be more change in the automotive industry over the next five years, than we have seen in the last fifty years.
That statement speaks volumes, but as we make our way through the ‘010s, it’s certainly fitting thus far. Ride sharing and car sharing services have sprung up to make mobility easier; electric vehicles are somewhat commonplace; autonomous driving no longer seems out of reach, and connectivity is greater than it ever has. Remember, you can get wi-fi in an entry level Chevrolet Cruze now. That’s something to think about.
Barra sat down with Wired for an in-depth interview to discuss the change that is unfolding before, and of course to state how she plans to lead GM into the future during such changes.
And all of that begins with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the first mass-market EV with over 200 miles of range, and a price point of around $30,000 after federal tax credits. Have a listen to what Barra has to say right up above.
Comments
I’m a big fan of Mary Barra and so this isn’t specifically aimed at her: anyone talking about autonomous driving as if it’s going to work, work well, and soon is absolutely stark raving INSANE. LooOOOONnneeeEEYYyy ToooonNNIiees.
Know how WE know this? Train crashes. They’re almost ONCE A WEEK domestically. Explain to me how it’s even POSSIBLE that trains hit EACH OTHER on the same tracks in 2016? Yet cars are only ‘a few years away’ from driving themselves off of tracks?!?
Nope. Don’t explain it to me. I’m not listening. NA-NA-NA.
Instead I want these genius rocket engineer types to end train crashes for five years straight. Once THAT happens you can start pitching your self driving cars. Until then —
— LOONEY TUNES
I wonder what Lockheed, Boeing, and Airbus engineers have to say to Casey Jones? Probably that although he was a hero saving passengers after the crash, his 9 citations (totaling over 145 days suspension) in his career before the crash may have had something to contribute to the chaos that led to the crash. I reckon that 20 years after car autonomy has been implemented, train autonomy will be in place as well.
“Nope. Don’t explain it to me. I’m not listening. NA-NA-NA.”
Well if you’re going to be like that, then you’ll be the last to know when autonomous car come.
The tech to stop most train crashes already exists but since it is not mandated the train company’s refuse to install it.