From: mark@unicorn.com
Date: Fri Nov 20 1998 - 09:50:22 MST
GBurch1@aol.com wrote:
>That's right, but there aren't many small start-ups in the automobile
>industry.
But as usual that's largely due to the barriers that government regulations
put in the way of new companies. In the UK -- where pretty much anyone
can set themselves up as an auto manufacturer -- there are dozens of small
manufacturers, some selling complete cars, others selling them as kits for
home assembly. The cars are usually cheap and idiosyncratic, but they're
often much better for their target market than the usual models from Ford
or GM.
Interestingly, one such car is the only one I know of allowed to compete
in rallies without a roll-cage -- the body is so strong that it doesn't
need one -- and the old Jensen FF, with ABS and permanent 4WD back in the
late 60s, couldn't be sold in the US because Jensen weren't willing to
smash up two cars to pass US safety regs; in terms of production numbers
that would be equivalent to Ford smashing half a million Escorts. So US
safety regs *prevented* the sale of the safest car in the world at the
time.
But then that's government for you...
Mark
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 14:49:49 MST