February 21st Josh Schwartz

• What venture capital firms invest in this industry? What have been some of their successes?
• Venture capital firms are often used in the automotive industry to save and rebuild a failing automotive industry. For instance, recently the Swedish government formed a venture capital firm in order to attempt to save their countries failing automotive industry. (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-26/sweden-tries-venture-capital-approach-to-salvage-auto-industry.html). Typically, venture capital firms either get involved at the beginning of the business or when the business is in serious need of help.

• In what areas of the industry are there opportunities for innovation?
• Areas for innovation are huge within the automotive industry. Every day, car companies are trying to find more fuel efficient, safer, and faster cars in order to keep up with their tough competitors. However, today the main focal point for innovation is green energy and green cars. Each company is looking to find the energy of the future in order to beat their competitors to the punch. Surely, we can see through our society how important green technology is to us and the automotive industry is no different. Green cars is the future of the automotive industry