Uber’s Sandcastle

Uber’s Sandcastle
by Roger C. Lanctot on 05-13-2019 at 7:00 am

As Uber’s initial public offering arrives this is a good moment to consider what kind of employment model for the future we all, as employees and employers, would prefer to adopt: Amazon or Uber?

One of my sons has interviewed with Amazon. The other has his Amazon moment today. My across-the-street neighbor works for Amazon Web Services.… Read More


Auto Shows No Connection

Auto Shows No Connection
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-21-2019 at 12:00 pm

The Washington Auto Show, one of the largest auto shows in the U.S., has a problem and it is a problem shared by other auto shows in the U.S. and around the world. It is a problem that plagues the entire industry and it may spell trouble for connecting with car customers.

I visited the Washington Auto Show last week. The event closed on … Read More


Which Way is Up for Lyft, Uber?

Which Way is Up for Lyft, Uber?
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-07-2019 at 7:00 am

Lyft’s initial public offering was expected to be the biggest tech offering in two years. A public offering is very much like an elevator and everyone getting on the elevator wants to go up. It’s worth noting as the doors open on the Lyft IPO elevator, General Motors is likely to be getting off – and they are not alone.… Read More


Self-Certification Insufficient?

Self-Certification Insufficient?
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-26-2019 at 12:00 am

The crash of Ethiopia Air Flight 961 may have a negative impact on the development of autonomous vehicle technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now forced to reconsider the “self-certification” process used for the Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane involved.

Self-driving car developers have been seeking the same … Read More


I Finally Understand Brexit

I Finally Understand Brexit
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-17-2019 at 7:00 am

I have gazed across the Pond in bafflement over Brexit until two days ago. I now grasp the depth and breadth of British anxiety over political and legal ties to Brussels and it boils down to regulatory over-reach.

Yesterday, the European Commission announced that it had adopted new rules “stepping up the deployment of Cooperative… Read More


Car Sharing Prophets and Losses

Car Sharing Prophets and Losses
by Roger C. Lanctot on 02-15-2019 at 12:00 pm

Industry analysts are fond of painting terrifying pictures of catastrophic market changes resulting from disruptive technologies or business models. Nowhere is this more evident, of late, than in the automotive industry where everything from artificial intelligence to automated driving is expected to upend current thinking… Read More


McKinsey Mangles Micromobility

McKinsey Mangles Micromobility
by Roger C. Lanctot on 02-08-2019 at 12:00 pm

Micromobility – characterized by shared bicycles, scooters and other wheeled devices – was all the rage in 2018 and that enthusiasm has carried over into 2019 – if McKinsey is to be believed. McKinsey published a white paper last week touting the glories of micromobility and a potential market of $300B-$500B by 2030.… Read More


Jeephack Repercussions

Jeephack Repercussions
by Roger C. Lanctot on 02-04-2019 at 7:00 am

Automotive cybersecurity is an intractable nightmare with significant though inchoate implications for consumers and existential exposure for auto makers. This reality became painfully clear earlier this month when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear FiatChrysler Automotive’s appeal in a class action lawsuit over … Read More


CES 2019 Stormy Weather for IBM

CES 2019 Stormy Weather for IBM
by Roger C. Lanctot on 02-03-2019 at 12:00 pm

Ginni Rometty, chairman, president and CEO of IBM was kind enough to take on the task of an hour-long keynote at CES 2019 in Las Vegas last week. She used the opportunity to highlight three areas of computational innovation at IBM – deep data, broad AI and quantum systems – with the help of three partners: Delta Airlines, Wal-Mart… Read More


CES 2019 The Year of De-Appification

CES 2019 The Year of De-Appification
by Roger C. Lanctot on 01-13-2019 at 7:00 am

CES 2018 saw the proliferation of digital assistant applications in cars (and homes, of course) with Harman International, Panasonic and Visteon showing multiple digital assistant implementations with in-dash infotainment systems. Panasonic showed a hybrid Alexa system capable of working off line and Harman showed a system… Read More