Innovation Fails: DeLorean | Shifting Gears | 2
American Innovations
Audible
4.6 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 1 August 2019
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The DeLorean was going to change the automotive industry. Designed to be fast, fuel-efficient, durable and affordable, it was going to be the first ethical sports car. It was going to break Detroit’s monopoly on car manufacturing and bring stability to Ireland’s fragile economy.
So what went wrong? And what can we learn from it?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to American innovations |
| 0:03.6 | add-free on Amazon Music, download the app today. |
| 0:08.0 | This episode of American Innovations contains depictions of drugs |
| 0:12.1 | and is not suitable for everyone. |
| 0:14.2 | Please be advised. |
| 0:23.3 | It's the summer of 1974, and John DeLorean is at the airport. |
| 0:28.6 | It's been a year since he left his high-power job at General Motors. |
| 0:32.2 | He hasn't confirmed it officially, but rumor has it he's planning to go solo |
| 0:37.3 | with a car brand of his own, and that he's recruiting. |
| 0:42.3 | These rumors are about to be confirmed. |
| 0:46.3 | DeLorean struts up to a payphone and dials. |
| 0:51.3 | Go for Collins. |
| 0:52.8 | Collins is William T. Collins, a highly respected chief engineer and project manager |
| 0:58.3 | at GM with 20 years on the job. |
| 1:01.6 | In Detroit, he's known as the Godfather of the Grand Am. |
| 1:05.1 | GM's answer to the European sports sedan. |
| 1:08.1 | And he's good at what he does. |
| 1:10.3 | Bill, it's John. |
| 1:12.0 | You got a minute? |
| 1:13.2 | Sure, John. |
| 1:14.0 | I've got a minute just sitting here and Detroit making cars for GM. |
| 1:17.7 | You might remember the place you used to work here. |
... |
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