FEB 26

The X-Prize Foundation is a prestigious nonprofit that looks to help mankind achieve greatness in many ways. It already has helped to launch the first commercial space company, Virgin Galactic, and now it looks to bring its pioneering spirit to the automotive field. The only problem is that major automotive companies just aren’t interested.

The goal of the Automotive X Prize is to create sports cars, which are not only fast and stylish, but get at least 100 mpg fuel efficiency and meet strict emissions standards. Oh, one more thing – the vehicles have to be commercially viable.

The project has drawn substantial support from small start-ups and universities. Over 50 teams have signed up to compete. Meanwhile, despite being personally contacted by the X-Prize Foundation, every major auto company, including the ones that have gotten closest to 100 mpg (Honda, Toyota and GM) have decided to completely ignore the competition. X-Prize organizer Donald Foley says it’s because they’re chicken – they’re afraid of image damage if their vehicle loses to a small start-up.

An old adage goes that no one achieves greatness by playing it safe. Unfortunately, auto companies seem content to snub the X-Prize and stick to their current less risky projects. It’s a shame too, because many automakers have shown what seems to be an earnest commitment to environmental progress over the last few years and their deep pockets could help bring the project significantly closer to realization. Foley is disappointed, but resigned. He states simply, “We would very much like them to participate…”, but he concludes, “We also understand that this is a decision for many of them that will involve a degree of risk.”

Comments (4)

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why won't they enter?
written by Eric Boyd, February 26, 2008

I wrote a fairly involved analysis a few weeks ago trying to figure out why the major carmakers were not entering the race. I decided that it came down to the risk of making the contest "legitimate". If they can all collude to not enter, there is a chance that the contest will be seen by consumers as not being "for real", i.e. we're not going to be able to buy these vehicles, so it's not worth paying attention... but in my opinion, if even a single large carmaker joins, all the others will have to as well.

If you're interested in my full analysis, check it out here: Major Car Makers and the Automotive X Prize http://xprizecars.com/2008/02/...automo.php

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Risk
written by Celia, March 01, 2008

How risky is it to be an innovator? Are these companies too chicken? Are they afraid of bad reviews? Are they afraid a smaller company will kick their asses? I hope the underdog does. That's the whole point of this country: to stick it to the man.

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CONCERNED CITIZEN
written by KEN, March 03, 2008

THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY --- LIKE OPTHERS ---- HAS THRIVED FOR YEARS ON " PLANNED OBSOLESENCE" --- AND " AVERAGE VEHICLE LIFE " AND MATCHING COST / TIMEFRAME OF NEW CAR LOANS ---- THUS KEEPING THE AMERICAN CAR BUYER ON AN ENDLESS TREADMILL OF EXSPENSIVE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT CYCLES --- THUS --- THEY ARE TERRIFIED OF
ANY TRULY INOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY --- ESPECIALLY CONCEPTS THAT MIGHT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE VEHICLE LIFE AND / OR REDUCE ONGOING EXPENSIVE DEALER REPAIR BILLS

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Auto Makers are scared
written by Richard, March 28, 2008

Why can't they do this?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/...le20.html
That's a 59 Opel with 70s technology. Those cars are heavy METAL/we have fiberglass; they were moving boxes/we have aerodynamics; current technology blows things out of the water. I'm sending this to each major auto maker looking for a half way decent answer. Or don't the automakers care? Are they all in with the oil companies to make a hell of a profit?

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