The Automotive Era Is OVER? Famed Exec, Bob Lutz, Makes A SCARY Prediction — Is It Realistic Or Pure BS?

Making waves is an all-new story written by the very famed former automotive executive, Bob Lutz. Lutz is familiar with controversy as many of his talking points and sound bytes have been causing a stir for years now. 

But just as much buzz as he's created, he hasn't always been on point.

Take, for example, the Via venture. Or, how about VLF Automotive?

Sure, the guy has credibility but if we were to evaluate it over the past several years it's more like a drunk grandfather talking at your family's Thanksgiving dinner. Hugely entertaining but not particularly welcome or thought out.

Having said that, I did want to share Lutz's take on the automotive industry. Essentially, he says it's the end of the road. The automotive business is pretty much over as we switch from automobiles to what he describes as autonomous modules that will zip us to and from our respective destinations. 

When this will happen? 15-20 years "at the latest," writes Lutz. This all makes sense as human-driven autos will be legislated off the roads around that time. 

I know it sounds like a bad sci-fi flick but I suggest you give Lutz's byline a read. That's because — at least — it is an entertaining read. Worst case? He's right and we're all getting into modules in 15-20 years. 

Once you give Lutz's piece a read let us know what you think: Is this even REALISTIC or is Lutz's off his rocker spouting pure BS?



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TheSteve - 11/5/2017 9:14:35 PM

+5 Boost

re (title) "The Automotive Era Is OVER" -- Yeah, in the same way that we're living in the "Post-PC Era" that everyone has been writing about for years.

MDarringer - 11/5/2017 9:14:52 PM

+3 Boost

Total BS. The guy's past 80. Alzheimers is setting in.

TomM - 11/6/2017 8:13:30 AM

+2 Boost

I have already said many of the things Lutz said - and it is not total BS.
When the government notices that they have the ability to control a car from the outside of the car- speed limits will become HARD wired - acceleration will be limited - and the space between cars will also be mandated and controlled. THAT will indeed reduce traffic accidents and fatalities - it will also destroy the performance car industry - when you are limited tot he same speeds as everyone else - who needs more power? YOU will not be able to use it.

Mr. Lutz - while more severe - is simply ahead of his time - eventually everything he says will happen - but it will be far off into the future(Maybe 100 years) . And I suspect there will be more options for travel than just on land - Jetson's here we come!

MDarringer - 11/6/2017 8:29:05 AM

+2 Boost

So to recap @TomM...if what he says will actually happen in 100 years then what he said given his time frame is pure BS.

TomM - 11/6/2017 10:22:24 AM

+1 Boost

So lets recap - virtually everything he says will eventually come true - just not as quickly - so sorry MATT - it is not PURE BS - if that were true - none of it would EVER happen - and it will.

MrEE - 11/5/2017 9:44:35 PM

+1 Boost

Certainly would make sense for large cities to solve parking and congestion, and much more effective than cabs or uber. 20 years is likely, but not in the US.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/6/2017 12:14:04 AM

+2 Boost

Funniest part is the reference that the horse has been used for transportation by humans for only "hundreds of years". Perhaps a few thousand. 6,000 to be precise. First humans to ride were in the Steppes / Eurasian / Ukraine area of the world. http://discovermagazine.com/2002/mar/featride

senft - 11/6/2017 5:29:32 AM

+2 Boost

Lutz was one of the most knowledgeable execs out there. Poor at management -- his career as a CEO is well paved with failure but he knows his cars.
That said, he knows approximately nothing about politics. If one's a paranoid conservative still living in fear of the perversion of the New Deal we had in the 60s and 70s, yeah, then Lutz is on to something at the linked piece. But for his nightmare to come true, you have to accept that the government is going to act to make it happen. We are, however, decades past the point where the American government would do any such thing. For a super recent example: The DOA tax deform proposal that just dropped includes eliminating the tax break for buying an EV. I'd hazard a guess that that's a better clue to how the current state will kill the ICE than Lutz's decades old nightmare.

Dr550 - 11/6/2017 5:33:53 PM

+4 Boost

Just like Walt Disney's vision of tomorrow: EPCOT. Or maybe Lutz just watched "Logan's Run."

supermoto - 11/7/2017 11:43:37 AM

+1 Boost

He's totally right - at least for big city dwellers. I live in a pretty dense urban area with over 5 million people, and no younger person wants to own a car.
They just Uber everywhere. So the car company of the future does not sell products - they offer a taxi service.

SanJoseDriver - 11/20/2017 7:09:31 AM

-4 Boost

I think he is actually right for once, and it might be 10 years out for urban areas.