Is the future of the auto industry in Silicon Valley or Detroit?

Bill Ford tired of hearing the future of cars belong to Silicon Valley. For years, Apple and Google, who once wanted to be the initiators of the automotive industry, have been telling him that only large technology companies can make unmanned vehicles.

"We are stupid enough to understand this presumption," said Ford Motor Co. executive chairman and grandson of automotive pioneer Henry Ford. "The public opinion has indeed changed."

He is not joking. Once the destroyer technology giants Apple and Google, have now concluded that they do not want to really make cars. However, they are still supplying autopilot technology for cars. The reality is that they cannot meet the complex tasks of mass production, which results in the right to speak out against traditional car manufacturers.

Automotive manufacturing is a huge undertaking. From stamping to welding, it is a highly complex process. The car company also integrated millions of lines of code to control everything from radio to radar sensors and will soon allow unmanned driving. In addition, car companies have deep experience in managing suppliers' channels. Generally, cars are assembled from more than 10,000 non-removable and independent parts. Behind this is a huge industrial chain.

All of these complexities are "a problem that many IT companies have entered into this business," said former head of Google Robotics, James Koffner, currently chief technology officer at Toyota Research. "No matter what the venture capitalists tell you, it's very difficult to build a car."

It is reported that Google co-founder Larry Page came to the conclusion that when he discussed privately earlier this year, he was sad about the slow pace of the company's self-driving car project. Although Google began its autopilot efforts before other technology companies, its projects have always been plagued by uncertainties in its business model and loss of personnel. In response, Google spokesman declined to comment.

At the same time, automakers are investing billions of dollars to develop their own autopilot systems. They have installed semi-automatic features such as automatic braking and automatic lane keeping technology. They are now working on building a road test for self-driving taxis, which will likely collect 130,000 miles of driving data per year - 10 times today, autopilot taxis can run 18 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, self-driving taxis will often be replaced and sold in large quantities, providing manufacturers with a big return.

Did not reach any agreement

In the old saying, "You are going to be a mobile phone, and you are investing in low-margin technology to gather other people's cool technology." But Ford said, "We don't want to be a cell phone, nor will it be a cell phone."

This does not mean that the car company did not try to cooperate with Silicon Valley. Volvo Cars supplies Uber Technologies with SUVs for autopilot taxis in Pittsburgh. Fiat Chrysler Motor Company provided Google with 100 minivans for conversion into self-driving vehicles. These transactions may indicate a larger alliance.


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