Hi Michael....
I agree with you on the import of the TRW relationship, and most particularly, how it has made Autoliv totally irrelevant.
Any auto company that wants the *facts* regarding ITS now has at least two places to go to get them (assuming they don't want to go directly to Simula, which might be perceived as too self interested to get a truly independent view), TRW and Delphi. And, there will be no more skullduggery regarding misquoting ITS pricing vis-a-vis curtains, as there are too many places where such data is available for misinformation to be circulating without contradiction. (For the uninitiated, ITS is less expensive.)
My own view is that Autoliv, which clearly could have held the position that TRW seems to have now filled, missed a gigantic opportunity because of its "not invented here" corporate culture. In my judgement, Autoliv has made a terrible error, and it isn't yet certain what the fallout will be with its own customers.
*IF* Mercedes or Volvo end up utilizing Simula technology for side impact head protection, I guess we will learn the answer to that question in due course. Were I an Autoliv shareholder, I would be appalled at the way this entire situation has been handled. They could have had ITS as a virtual *monopoly*, and they have been made irrelevant by their own actions.
Wow. Management really counts, doesn't it?
Have a good day. |
