Comment Re:Google needs Detroit... (Score 1) 236
It's going to be fascinating to watch the decline of automakers. Most people don't need or technically want a car, they want need/want the ability to travel quickly from point A to point B. The rest of the time, the car is just sitting there doing nothing.
A fleet of automated cars will solve the automotive needs of the vast majority of people. Car sales will plummet, as well other associated industries: mechanics, automotive stores, oil change places, etc.
It's going to be crazy. The panic we saw from Microsoft when tablets arrived; the music industry when MP3s appeared on the internet; Apple's lawsuit war when Android started outselling it, auto dealers getting Tesla showrooms banned; etc etc. It's all going to be dwarfed by this. I expect to see automakers try everything: mass litigation, lobbying, even widespread propaganda. Anything they can to try and stop the automation of cars.
If they're smart they'll sign long-term agreements now while this tech is still "new." I expect Elon Musk will be be quite victorious in this, chances are it'll be his batteries that will be going into these cars.