Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Build-to-Order Cars?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the side-order-of-ram-and-a-free-printer dept.

MadMonk writes "Baseline has an article about a new car company that wants to be 'the Dell of the auto industry.' Build-To-Order, Inc. could turn the auto industry on its ear. At worst, BTO will be an interesting technology petri dish. I want a customized car to match my customized computer."

6 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. custom? by JeffSh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    isn't calling a dell computer a "custom" computer a bit of a stretch? they're interchangable parts, its not like they are custom built.

    it's henry fords interchangable parts manufacturing line, but with mcdonalds order panels telling the monkey what part to put in and where. I don't see the big innovation with so called "custom" pc's...

    1. Re:custom? by fidget42 · · Score: 5, Informative

      The current auto manufactureres are already the "Dell of automobiles." They give you a selection of options (color, radio, interior, etc.) and you can choose what you want. If you want something for which they don't have a configuration then you don't get it (go ahead and try to get a real Windows CD from Dell, I dare you) or it costs you more than it should.

      --
      The dogcow says "Moof!"
    2. Re:custom? by f97tosc · · Score: 5, Informative

      The current auto manufactureres are already the "Dell of automobiles." They give you a selection of options (color, radio, interior, etc.) and you can choose what you want. If you want something for which they don't have a configuration then you don't get it

      The difference is that if you don't want something that they do have, then the unwanted car will be standing, and potentially sold at a discount (whereas the unwanted Dell is never built). The losses from the unwanted cars are passed on to the consumer, in the price of the popular varieties.

      Tor

  2. GM already had this idea by tgrigsby · · Score: 5, Informative

    If I recall correctly, GM has already had designs in the works for an electric car that would be built on top of a "skateboard", basically a car base with batteries and electronics all built in. You could pop any shell/interior top onto that base. The idea was that you spent the big bucks on the base, and then spend your fashion dollars on a new top from year to year. In fact, an aftermarket was envisioned for custom, made to order, modularized, pop-together tops for the base.

    --
    *** *** You're just jealous 'cause the voices talk to me... ***
    1. Re:GM already had this idea by tgrigsby · · Score: 5, Informative

      In fact, here's a URL:

      http://money.cnn.com/2002/01/08/autos/auto_tech/

      --
      *** *** You're just jealous 'cause the voices talk to me... ***
  3. The article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The preconceived notion is that the network will run Unix, but I came to the view that this is a unique opportunity, so why take something that's decades old?" says Lele.

    By that logic, the concept of a internal combustion engine is over 100 years old, and seats are thousands of years old. Maybe he shouldn't use those either.