One big and ongoing ethical issue that many auto companies face is the dilemma of creating a safe vehicle versus a cost efficient vehicle. There are many different technologies out there, that are already developed, that can make cars even safer to operate. Unfortunately many car companies refrain themselves from using those technologies in order to cut down on production cost. If a given car is too expensive it will not be as popular among the general population. If the car doesn't sell then the auto makers will not produce it.
Another problem that we are facing todays is the growing demand for fuel efficient cars. Those cars are usually smaller in order to get good fuel mileage. A smaller car is can be more dangerous during a car accident. Auto companies have to choose between making small fuel efficient and potentially deadly models or making big and safer car models. Unfortunately most companies choose profit over safety.
2. What are some examples of ethics challenges that industry players have experienced?
In an article "Toyota Tries to Break Reliance on China" the author Mike Ramsey writes: "Toyota is striving to develop a new type of electric motor to escape a simmering trade conflict involving China's grip on rare earth metals." The hybrid model cars are already expensive as it is. If China decides to increase the cost of the needed earth metals, they will increase the costs of hybrid automobiles too. By trying to find a new and cheaper way to power engines Toyota is making the right ethical choice in order to keep the prices of the hybrid automobiles lower. They could have chosen to continue on buying China's earth metal, but instead chose to find a new way to produce hybrid engines and to keep customers satisfied too.
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Good posting, good article, make sure to comment on at least on of your teammate's posts as well.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right in choosing safety as the main ethical issue of the automobile industry. This should probably be our main point idea of the ethics part of our paper at the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteYou are dead on with your post to question number one.
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