Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by baloki 1171 days ago
Honestly I think by that point owning one won’t even be a thing. You’ll rent it from the manufacturer on demand or via a subscription with your subset of features enabled just for your trip.

They won’t park, they’ll just move from one job to the next (like taxis and ubers).
2 comments
calvinmorrison 1171 days ago
I think that's naiive. There's a reason why taxis aren't couriers. There will certainly be specialization. There will still be buses, with AI drivers instead of humans, to get a lot of people from A to B, there will be delivery vans, with maybe delivery robots, maybe there will be taxi's, long haul, etc.
link
ajcp 1171 days ago
I completely agree they can change our relationship with vehicles. Let's look beyond a subscription service though and think how it can be part of a stand-alone auto insurance policy, or offered by your apartment complex as part of your monthly rent, or the HOA and paid for as part of your dues the same as landscaping is. SDCs will be services that are offered as part of a larger relationship/service.
link
isquaredr 1171 days ago
Interesting take. Would my HOA be controlling utilization and maintenance? If the car has a flat tire or my neighbor monopolizes the usage, would the larger relationship/service be responsible for fixing the issue?
link
ajcp 1171 days ago
Sure it would, just as any other service provided for by your condo/HOA fees or what have you. BTW I think having a HOA do anything beyond landscaping is probably more of a headache than it's worth, but still...

I think the possibility is more around SDCs becoming not simply a business to individual customer service or subscription, but rather SDCs being offered by organizations the individual customer is already a member of as part of that organizational offering. This can begin at large and wealthy retirement communities first (like Sun City Grand in Phoenix), but there's no reason why it couldn't be implemented elsewhere or why an organization that is already setup to handle customer and vehicle relationships can't offer it as well. Think AARP or your auto insurance company.

link