Ferdinand Porsche and Lee Iacocca: Advances in Car Culture Erin Schnettler and Dan Hussey

1. Ferdinand Porsche and Lee Iacocca: Advances in Car CultureErin Schnettler and Dan Hussey Central Thesis: Lee Iacocca and Ferdinand Porsche were two major players in the automobile industry’s history whose contributions accelerated the proliferation and acceptance of the “car culture” that remains in effect today. The purpose of this project is to critically analyze how Iacocca and Porsche’s innovations to the auto industry influenced society’s development of the “car culture.” Ferdinand Porsche: Engineering the Common Man’s Car Lee Iacocca: How to Save a Failing Company • Contributions: • Volkswagon=“The People’s Car” • Affordable & practical • Cars were no longer a status symbol • European competition to Ford accelerated development of cheap cars • VW Beetle=pop culture icon • Other engineering breakthroughs Thesis: Lee Iacocca’s method of pulling Chrysler out of bankruptcy applies to today’s auto industry financial troubles. Image Source: http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/Lee-Iacocca-Great-American.jpg Context: Iacocca was able to turn Chrysler around, pulling them out of bankruptcy earlier than expected by taking smart risks on creative ideas in concepts and marketing. Image Source: http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/2008-chrysler-minivan.jpg • Costs: • In return for funding, Porsche aided and advised Hitler and the Nazi military • Enabled the Volkswagon Propaganda scheme • Developed the K85 and other military tools for the Nazi army Conclusion: By following the Iacocca model on pushing forward the evolution of car technology and cutting the excess fat within the company that slows new ideas from hitting the market, US car companies today can return from bankruptcy to challenge the recent foreign dominance. Image Source: http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/evolution-std.jpg.jpeg