[mikepurvis]

I'm also a bit skeptical about the skateboard hype. Like, wasn't this what the legacy auto manufacturers learned in the 90s as competition ramped up from Asia, that it really wasn't worth the diversion of having half a dozen barely-differentiated cars on the same "platform" being badged and marketed in different ways (think Taurus/Sable/Continental, etc).

Basically, all the specs that matter will be coming from the skateboard as far as performance, battery life, handling, and so on. What incentive is there to try to build a new box when someone else is making the chocolates?

[darkwater]

Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 have the same skateboard (today I learnt this naming), are obviusly 2 similar cars but have enough differences on the aestethic side to interest different people. External look is still a thing when choosing a car (right after the brand).

[quartesixte]

External look can also affect drive handling (weight distribution, aero, general bulk/length concerns for city streets/parking)!

[oblio]

> Like, wasn't this what the legacy auto manufacturers learned in the 90s as competition ramped up from Asia, that it really wasn't worth the diversion of having half a dozen barely-differentiated cars on the same "platform" being badged and marketed in different ways (think Taurus/Sable/Continental, etc).

Volkswagen is a top 3 auto manufacturer and was top 1 recently. Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat, Audi go exactly against what you're saying.

[vineyardmike]

But do all the VW cars share everything except the badge and body shape?

[oblio]

I don't know about "everything" but they for sure share a platform and stuff such as air vents, etc.

[krolley]

Don't car makers normally create 'platforms[1]' anyway, where a bunch of designs and production features are re-used across brands in the group?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_platform