Ever wonder what the American automobile industry would be like if it actually made good cars? ZDNet takes it a step further to speculate as to what GM would look like under Steve Jobs' guidance, speculation that is worth further discussion.
No one is suggesting that Steve Jobs has any interest in reforming GM and the U.S. automobile industry, but don't you wish he would? Or for the Microsofties among you, how about Steve Ballmer? Or Marc Benioff? Or anyone from the technology industry?
In technology, we don't have the benefit (and problem) of years of government subsidies, regulations, and unionization. If we don't deliver compelling products, we die.
Today politicians are trying to funnel mountains of cash to the domestic auto industry, conveniently overlooking the other U.S. automobile industry run by Honda, Toyota, and others that employs more than 100,000 people and makes much better cars. For what? To perpetuate its utter incompetence and pander to union votes. It's shameless and, frankly, shameful.
I don't blame Democrats or Republicans for this--both have their pet bailouts. But until the U.S. automobile industry learns how to innovate and make good products again, we should let it struggle to compete. Maybe Detroit will die and those jobs will move to the Honda factories elsewhere. Is that a bad thing?
The U.S. automobile industry could learn a thing or two from the technology industry, like how to compete without expecting a handout.
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