Bob Lutz: Kiss the good times goodbye' (No more cars)

Auto News.com ^ | Bob Lutz

[Hojczyk]

It saddens me to say it, but we are approaching the end of the automotive era.

The auto industry is on an accelerating change curve. For hundreds of years, the horse was the prime mover of humans and for the past 120 years it has been the automobile.

Now we are approaching the end of the line for the automobile because travel will be in standardized modules.

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.

Then, as you approach your exit, your module will enter deceleration lanes, exit and go to your final destination. You will be billed for the transportation. You will enter your credit card number or your thumbprint or whatever it will be then. The module will take off and go to its collection point, ready for the next person to call.

Most of these standardized modules will be purchased and owned by the Ubers and Lyfts and God knows what other companies that will enter the transportation business in the future.

A minority of individuals may elect to have personalized modules sitting at home so they can leave their vacation stuff and the kids' soccer gear in them. They'll still want that convenience.

The vehicles, however, will no longer be driven by humans because in 15 to 20 years — at the latest — human-driven vehicles will be legislated off the highways.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[KC_Lion]

LOL!

In other news: Europeans Slowly Fall Victim to Pickup Truck Fever

[Paradox]

I love it when futurists confuse what “can” happen with what “will” happen. They are seldom correct, very, very seldom.

[Alberta's Child]

Good luck with that. By the time the world gets around to this type of scenario, most people aren’t going to have any interest in traveling anywhere on a regular basis.

[xzins]

Pretty grim. More like 100 years.

The freedom of mobility.

[discostu]

While self driving cars will be here, the modules thing probably will not. Largely because it adds complexity to no gain. There’s lots ways popping modules in and out of a “train” can be difficult and no real reason for it, it adds no safety, very little fuel economy, and no efficiency.

[BipolarBob]

I, for one, welcome our new automotive overlords.

/s

[Army Air Corps]

The freedom of mobility.

The wannabe oligarchs of the world despise the notion of the "common folk" travelling where they wish, how they wish, and when they wish.

[taildragger]

This is the guy that should be Running for the Senate in Michigan....

[WKUHilltopper]

Globalist control BS...

[aspasia]

Just give me furnace or the lions.

[Sacajaweau]

It's called a bus for one. I think we have to look at the entire transportation system. We need more park and ride, more buses....for 10 people....not 100....subways...

The car problem is growing and the highways are overcrowded.

And we need to be design smart...with malls etc.

[ClearCase_guy]

[BitWielder1]

Nah, someone will invent Teleportation, eliminating the need for highways, cars, trains, boats and airplanes completely.

Oh, did I confuse "will" and "may" also?

[EvilCapitalist]

I’m all for keeping cars. Otherwise, accidents like what happens in the video below might occur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHZ7YHKyNeE

[T-Bird45]

I can’t begin to fathom the amount of capital that will have to be expended on the infrastructure to support the vision Mr. Lutz describes.

[butlerweave]

Only if Governments(Dictatorships) everywhere order it

[Dr. Sivana]

Lutz also said that there wouldn't be another Big three released car that can perform as the Dodge Viper. He was also really on board with Perot's 50 cent gasoline tax.

I could see cars being banned in SF, and NYC. Pods are not going to take the place of pick up trucks, SUVs or box trucks in 15 years. The po' folks will not be satisfied with giving up their car for scrap value within five years.

Sabotage and terrorism that WILL happen to so of the self-driving cars will spook plenty in staying away from them, even if overall safety is better (think planes vs. cars). But most Americans just don't want to give up the ability to give up as something as personal as a car for a public utility. Mr. Lutz admits he dreads the inevitable outcome. So do the rest of us, except some city dwelling tree-huggers who have no skin in the game. If we all dread the inevitable outcome, it need not be inevitable.

[Snickering Hound]

And they will fly too! Wait, wasn't that supposed to have already happened?