Cheaper, fuel efficient cars will be the American future
When venture capitalist Venod Khosla of Khosla Ventures thinks about the future, he thinks Chindia, or will it matter in China and India?
Ultimately, in order to reach the masses of India, China and other emerging markets, cheaper vehicles will be needed. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to fuel. They'll also have to be cleaner and smaller in order to deal with urban pollution and congestion.
That's why every major automaker is toying around with one, two and three seat concepts, in addition to much cheaper conventional vehicles, such as the Tata Nano.
But, why not assume such vehicles could also work in America?
Even the smallest vehicles can be made extremely safe today. Add new safety software that is already making its way into luxury vehicles, and collisions could become very rare in the near future.
Thus, while the growingly passe idea that big is better because it's safer might resonate for some time in America, Chindian markets will not be nearly as averse to small vehicles.
Today, concepts like the Murray T.27 aren't just exploring such small vehicles, but new ways of production that guarantee much lower manufacturing costs for these cheaper small autos.
But the real bugaboo with such vehicles, in terms of the US, is all about perception. So, why not try to start changing this perception in the future of the US auto market?
Think high school and college students and single professionals just entering the workforce. Give'em a visually stimulating, two seater that offers 80 mpg, is safe and technologically loaded for under $10,000 and there will be buyers.
Sure such a vehicle might be such a small niche it makes hybrids seem mainstream -- at least at first -- but overtime such vehicles will become more acceptable. More important, it puts automakers ahead of the curve in terms of future automotive trends.
I mean, why not start building and implementing the future of the auto industry, today, here in America?
Sure, that's what EV fans claim is the point of EVs, but EVs have a long road ahead in terms of mainstreamable cost-effectiveness. Besides, you can't just plug-in the current American fleet.
Vehicles will have to be downsized in the future. Period.
That has to be the critical first step. Then add full hybrid technology that can be upgraded to plug-in hybrid technology. In fact, these new vehicles should be very upgradeable, customizable and recyclable.
Quite soon, such vehicles are going to drive the future of the auto market. They will be developed and mass-produced throughout Asia within the next few years, guaranteed.
Sure, we can eventually import these vehicles into the US, even from US companies based in Chindia, or we can get ahead of the trend now.
Unfortunately, US automakers just seem unwilling to be real trendsetters, at least here in the US. It's all about maximizing profits, not driving the future.
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