Original posting here: Darryl Siry's Blog: “Detroit 3” pressures will impact EV startups Picked up by CNN Money here: Next Chapter in the Silicon Valey vs. Detroit Saga: Chapter 11?
Analysis of the analysis: EV Statrups like Tesla and Fisker Will Not Survive A Mainsteam Auto - GLG News
Time will tell, but this guy (TIfton) seems too sure of himself about what lies ahead for EV startups if GM and/or Chrysler fail. Ford will likely still be around, not to mention the foreign companies like Toyota that manufacure in the US now too. Does this guy have any track record for predicting the furture? Or maybe he's got a cyrstal ball.
I don't agree with this article at all. For one thing, GM and Ford won't die. If one goes bankrupt, surely it will push the other one in the same direction, but solely because it will have significantly less debt and a better cost structure after reorganization. This is what happened to airline industry and the steel industry and I'm sure countless other ones that suffered the same problems - namely flagging demand in the face of an over-levered balance sheet with a rigid labor structure in a capital intensive business. These aren't fatal flaws. Somehow, these idiots have confused bankruptcy with an atom bomb blast that wipes out every automotive assembly and parts plant from existence. Furthermore, what components or component manufacturers does Tesla share with any of the aforementioned companies? Vanishingly few, and fewer still that couldn't be sourced to other companies I'm sure.
The Roadster has at least one GM part in it. No joke; when I was at the Menlo Park store taking delivery on my Roadster, they showed me around the final assembly operation, and they pointed out a wiring harness that was sourced by GM.