Beyond just “MPGs”, car companies are starting to be judged on their total carbon footprints. With all of the pressure to reduce emissions, increase fuel efficiency, and still deliver a quality vehicle, margins have gotten slim. Now, even more expense is going to research and development.With large-scale mergers falling out of favor, BMW has found a more creative approach to reduce R&D costs – actually sharing technical information. These tech alliances with GM, DaimlerChrysler, and Peugeot will help spread the costs for technologies that all can share.
It is an innovative solution to a monetary challenge, but I wonder how this might ultimately affect the “ultimate driving machine” brand.
Or can reducing their negative footprint actually increase their positive impression?
1 comment:
Hopefully they'll find some green solutions in the production process + materials that won't sacrifice the performance of car itself. Bruce Mau's exhibit has a lot of these solutions front and center. Now one of these car companies just needs to run with it.
http://www.massivechange.com/exhibition
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