Change Drives Us Forward
Whenever there’s big news announced that will affect the automotive industry, there’s shock and horror and people panic about how things will change.
The news that the government will be stopping the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 has been no different.
I can see why people are worried about electrification; at the moment homes and workplaces can’t cope with a huge number of electric cars, plus the cars themselves aren’t up to long distance journeys without being recharged yet, so I can see why it’s not an attractive prospect.
But the thing that’s worrying people the most is just how quickly change is happening. In just over 20 years car buying will look completely different to how it is now.
I don’t think there’s any reason to panic though – this isn’t the first time the industry has had to cope with a change, and it’s amazing how quickly these big impactful changes are embraced and become the norm.
There’s a photo taken of New York Times Square from 1906, which shows cars and buses pulled by horses. The same photo taken four years later has no horses at all, which for me shows just how rapidly change can happen in the automotive industry.
That was the early 20th century, and things haven’t stopped moving since. I’m not worried about electrification; change is exciting, especially in an industry like this, where change literally drives us forward.
So as we gear up for electrification, Pendragon will be approaching this change as just another exciting step forward, not something that should be feared.
Material scheduler and supply chain analyst
7 年Agreed however creating the future from a secondary power source to become environmentally better? And watching 50 % of the world having no interest as they produce the the majority of the world's climate issues. I question the uk and the government's thought process. Why instead can the whole world look at greener ways to package, recycle and NOT waste. Will the rest of the world embrace electric? What will happen if you try to drive around the world using electric ? What is the cost to recycle batteries at a cars end of life ? What about the commercial sector. All and a lot more of the questions that need to answered before another legislation is brought into force. By the way I still love steam engines another great part of history. Rant over.
Change is a given. The dinasours "died" because they couldn't change (adapt). The quicker any organisation can adapt or embrace this change the more successful they will be!
Managing Director at Quazar
7 年In 1886 if you wanted to see 'horseless carriage" you had to be in Stuttgart - 20 years later Henry Ford was mass producing cars in Detroit and changed the world. That the majority of our dealerships still operate in exactly the same way as 1970 is a reflection of our fear of change, perhaps this external threat will work to change our dealership operations for the better.
UK Customer Experience Manager at DS Automobiles
7 年Hear Hear! The secret is to change gradually but consistently , so there's less impact on the business