There aren’t very many small or startup auto makers, so it’s hard to assert that safety regulations don’t function as a barrier to entry. Not that it isn’t a good barrier to have!

> There aren’t very many small or startup auto makers, so it’s hard to assert that safety regulations don’t function as a barrier to entry.

Well actually...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_automobile_man...

Notice the number created before vs. after 1967, when the feds started passing vehicle safety regulations.

Also notice how many of those created after 1967 (e.g. Geo, Saturn, Hummer) aren't actually independent, they're just retired marks of the existing incumbents.

Because the safety regulations are designed for huge companies. The companies literally provide cars to the government to be crashed for testing purposes, because destroying a few cars is nothing to Ford or GM.

Ralph Nader would disagree.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/09/17/ralph-nade...