Several States Equate Concept Cars with “Full Production Automobiles”

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78) 05/20/2019 at 11:54 • Filed to: Taketheoutsideline, Satire

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In moves that have already been challenged by the Federal Trade Commission and American Civil Liberties Union, more than seven US states have declared that concept vehicles – those in the earliest stages of design – must be seen through to production unless they are canceled very early in the process.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signs a bill to solidify her state’s position on vehicular creation.

Alabama, a very automotive-heavy state with factories operated by Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Hyundai, took the bill step further to declare that all concepts must be greenlit immediately after the initial sketch is drawn.

Alabama governor Kay Ivey, in support of her recent decision to sign the bill, stated that “Carmakers here in Alabama were already overwhelmingly on board with this proposal. For example, the Mercedes GLS Coupe produced in Tuscaloosa was nothing but a drunken napkin sketch in a bar late one night. But as you see today, this vehicle has been produced for years, despite its mentally challenged design. We’re thankful that Mercedes made this difficult, yet important, decision.”

The Mercedes GLS Coupe concept, which changed very little before production began.

Georgia, which was also recently in the news for its so-called “Concept Clay Model Law,” declared that initial concepts may be scrapped, but once a clay model has been designed, the automaker must see it through to production. Critics, however, cite that carmakers often cannot make a rational decision over a car’s future until at least the clay model stage, or sometimes well into the ¾-scale nonworking mockup phase.

Dr. Mitt Everson, a production engineer for Kia Automobiles in West Point, Georgia, explains that he cannot make a reasonable decision so quickly in the process. “The design and manufacturing process takes a long time,” he asserts, “And sometimes we can’t know if the design is good or bad until we’re halfway there.” Dr. Everson then explained that Kia is considering moving its operations to New York State, which allows project cancellations even up until the official launch date.

“New York’s business-friendly policies are very attractive to us, and I’m sure they will be for other automakers, as well,” he concluded.

Similar pro-concept bills in Missouri, Louisiana, and others also threaten those states’ automotive business and are sure to be challenged in court by both the FTC and ACLU. Both organizations contend that car companies should not be forced to move their operations to more rural, dangerous, and unregulated states simply for the right to cancel their own projects. Further, they claim, most automakers are not well capitalized enough to make such moves, even if they wanted to.

ACLU Automotive Policy Director Kim Jorgensen officially responded to Alabama’s (and similar) bills by stating, “We believe the decision on concept cars should be between the Design Chief and his or her Chief Engineer. When this decision process is usurped by the state, our society can harmed by such rolling abortions as the Pontiac Aztek. No rational person wants to go back to that era.”

Future next gen S2000 owner > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:00

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I’d buy you a beer if I had hands or money or arms.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:01

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TIL Honda has a factory in Alabama

Ash78, voting early and often > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 05/20/2019 at 12:02

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Yep...since the late 90s. Every Odyssey and Pilot you see on the road, plus capacity for the MDX and I think a couple others.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:10

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I plan on calling Azteks rolling abortions going forward

Ash78, voting early and often > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/20/2019 at 12:13

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I never stopped!

marshknute > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:13

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For  Cadillac and Jeep, this should be a real law.

NKato > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:14

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These kinds of laws are fucking retarded.

Chariotoflove > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:18

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Every car deserves its chance to succeed or fail in the market. 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > marshknute 05/20/2019 at 12:33

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Seriously, all of these would be some of the best looking vehicles on the market today. Cadillac especially needs something like the Ciel...stop competing in the luxury Nurburgring field and go back to your roots: comfortable opulent cruising.

VW Max > marshknute 05/20/2019 at 12:33

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Will the Elmiraj ever not be perfect ?

just-a-scratch > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 12:48

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Will there be an exception for companies forced into it by a hostile designer or vehicles that are fundamentally not viable ?

Imagine having to spend decades supporting a car that no one wanted just because some crazy designer thought a convertible CUV was a great idea.

Even worse, what if the early design has no place to put a motor? I mean, a car like that would just sit there in a vegetative state.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Ash78, voting early and often 05/20/2019 at 13:08

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dont forget the ridgeline!

Ash78, voting early and often > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 05/20/2019 at 13:09

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Pilotamino? Totally forgot!

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Ash78, voting early and often 05/21/2019 at 00:44

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Under what constitutional enumerated power, even at the state constitution level, gives government the right to regulate this issue in a private company ?

What next?

If you propose a policy update or a capital purchase in your private business, you have to implement said update or purchase, just because you mentioned it as a possibility in a brainstorming session ?

If you quote a home renovation project, you HAVE to undertake it, even if the finances don’t work, and the contractors fall through ?

If your kids say they want a PB&J, you are obligated to make it, and if the kids change their minds, that they want Mac & Cheese instead, make that too, rather than perhaps eating what has been prepared ...

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have, and they’ll tell you it is for the greater good to take it.