Major Automakers Chicken Out, Wont Enter Auto X-Prize
The X-Prize Foundation is a prestigious nonprofit that looks to help mankind achieve greatness in many ways. It already has helped to launch the first commercial space company, Virgin Galactic, and now it looks to bring its pioneering spirit to the automotive field. The only problem is that major automotive companies just aren’t interested.
The goal of the Automotive X Prize is to create sports cars, which are not only fast and stylish, but get at least 100 mpg fuel efficiency and meet strict emissions standards. Oh, one more thing – the vehicles have to be commercially viable.
The project has drawn substantial support from small start-ups and universities. Over 50 teams have signed up to compete. Meanwhile, despite being personally contacted by the X-Prize Foundation, every major auto company, including the ones that have gotten closest to 100 mpg (Honda, Toyota and GM) have decided to completely ignore the competition. X-Prize organizer Donald Foley says it’s because they’re chicken – they’re afraid of image damage if their vehicle loses to a small start-up.
An old adage goes that no one achieves greatness by playing it safe. Unfortunately, auto companies seem content to snub the X-Prize and stick to their current less risky projects. It’s a shame too, because many automakers have shown what seems to be an earnest commitment to environmental progress over the last few years and their deep pockets could help bring the project significantly closer to realization. Foley is disappointed, but resigned. He states simply, “We would very much like them to participate…”, but he concludes, “We also understand that this is a decision for many of them that will involve a degree of risk.”