The results are in and Business Week Magazine has ranked the top 50 most innovative companies in the world. As far as the automotive giants go, there are a few surprises to our readers at large. A lot of us like to think that the true innovators in the automotive industry may be the expensive luxury brands out of Europe.
However, according to Business Week that doesn’t appear the case, their annual rankings tell us an entirely different story. If you take a look at the rankings and the quick summary for each company, it becomes evident Business Week seems to be placing gas saving technology and inexpensive product penetration in the market place, at a premium, lets say, over driver safety and occupant protection innovations.
I’m not sure if I totally agree with that, and I leave it up to you judge these companies on the merits as you see them and tell us if they are correct of not. Below is a listing of the rankings and a short insight into why they are placed where they are.
Ranked 3rd Overall- Toyota- Determined to retain its mantle as the hybrid leader among carmakers, the Japanese company plans to roll out a more fuel-efficient Prius in 2009. It’s also trying to match rival GM’s promise to deliver a plug-in gas-and-electric car using lithium ion batteries. Toyota is targeting 1 million hybrid sales annually by the early 2010s.
Ranked 6th Overall - Tata - The Mumbai-based conglomerate jumps onto our list for the first time, fueled by its paradigm-busting $2,500 “Nano” car for the masses. The car, from its Tata Motors unit, is the world’s cheapest, thanks partly to a distribution model that sells the auto in kits to entrepreneurs who assemble them for buyers.
Ranked 14th Overall - BMW - While other carmakers talk about hybrids and electric motors, this German maker of sports sedans has concentrated on getting the most out of existing technology. As a result, the latest BMWs and Minis challenge the Toyota Prius for gas mileage and low emissions.
Ranked 16th Overall - Honda - At a time when most carmakers are worrying about high gas prices, sales of fuel-efficient Hondas are growing. Next up, the automaker will introduce gas-sipping clean diesels, small affordable hybrids and, in 2010, a private jet that’s 30% more fuel efficient than rival offerings
Ranked 18th Overall - General Motors - CEO Richard Wagoner Jr. is making design a top priority in his efforts to jump-start GM’s struggling business, giving stylists a first crack at new models before engineers. Add in new hybrid-electric SUVs, along with plans for the ultrahigh-mileage Volt in 2010, and it’s clear GM is trying to shake its stodgy image.
Ranked 29th Overall - Audi - Company engineers look to biology for inspiration, studying the structure of insect wings to design car-body structures. To develop the top-of-the-line R8 sports car, Audi studied the streamlined shape of a swimming penguin.
Ranked 31st Overall - Daimler - The German premium carmaker cultivates the best up-and-coming engineers, whose recent innovations include a low-emissions, high-mileage motor. It uses the same self-igniting principle as diesel but runs on standard gasoline.