Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by lazyjones on Saturday March 02, 2019 @04:40AM
(#19288469)
> afaik the most important technological breakthroughs when it came to cars in Europe were made by the Italians
Carl Benz - invented and patented the first "motorcar"
Gottfried Daimler - also independently built an automobile the same year as Benz.
Siegfried Marcus - 131 patents, first petrol-powered vehicle.
etc.
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by expertentipp on Saturday March 02, 2019 @08:27AM
(#19289149)
Many early automotive technological breakthroughs attributed to Germans are Czech or Austrian actually. It's the enormous power of German automotive industry which absorbs all relevant innovation, and washes off any bad flaws.
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by AnonymousPlanet on Saturday March 02, 2019 @12:01PM
(#19289968)
Which of the names listed are Czech or Austrian?
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by paganel on Saturday March 02, 2019 @12:54PM
(#19290211)
The Tatra case and VW copying their design is pretty well known, and when you’ve literally got Hitler pulling out strings for you then you cannot hide behind late-19 century inventions anymore.
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_97#Resemblance_to_Volk...
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by mk89 on Saturday March 02, 2019 @04:58AM
(#19288524)
Did you ever drive a German car (not necessarily a Mercedes, even a simple VW Polo) vs a non German car? Seriously, that's the reason. Quality.
You can be as innovative as you wish, but if you are cheap and provide low quality products, that's what you get. Eventually someone is able to provide the same technology and then quality wins.
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by pps43 on Saturday March 02, 2019 @07:33AM
(#19288967)
That was true for a while, but not any more. Now Japanese and even Korean car makers have better quality (if you compare vehicles of similar price).
Re:Germany's car industry faces a perfect storm
by greedo on Saturday March 02, 2019 @11:46AM
(#19289903)
My VW CC is not a quality car; it's got nice fit and finish, but it's probably the most unreliable car I've ever owned, and I say that having owned a Fiat Mirafiori in the 80's. My CC has chronic design flaws, assembly flaws, and leaves me on pins and needles when I think about having to rely on it for another 4 years.
Not sure why you got downvoted, afaik the most important technological breakthroughs when it came to cars in Europe were made by the Italians (Fiat, mostly, but Alfa Romeo too), the French (the Citroen DS is one of the best technological products ever) and the Swedes (Volvo and its emphasis on security). Somehow the Germans navigated the ‘90s and early 2000s a little better, not sure exactly why (maybe because they invested in China earlier?), and that’s why right now they’re seen as the car companies to beat.