Auto Industry Oligopoly?

Question

The auto industry in the US is an oligopoly, although there is a lot of foreign competition. Is this likely to help or hinder the development of new auto technology like hybrids, electric cars, or other gas saving technology?

Answer 1

I think the fact that the American car industry is an oligopoly it has hindered the development of new auto technology.

it's not like they don't invest in trying to find new tech it's just that it really hasn't been their main focus, instead they have focused mostly on what they thought most americans wanted (big cars and SUVs)

if you look at a small start up like telsa motors they already have an electric car on the market.

the first hybrids on the market came from Japan.

If there where more smaller car companies in america we would likely see them trying to push new technologies that will save on gas to try and fill a need that has been in the market a long time but the big car companies are only now really noticing (and that problem is on gas prices/people wanting better fuel economy or not to use gas at all)