American, European and Chinese carmakers are calling on governments to come to their aid with a large infusion of public funds and warn that if help is not forthcoming, they could face collapse. While some politicians favour a bail-out, fearing a catastrophic blow to the economy, others argue that the companies should be cut loose and allowed to survive or perish in the open market. There is another way to approach the problem, but it would necessitate a radical change in perspective about what is happening in the motor industry and what should be done about it.

The introduction of the internal combustion engine and the highway infrastructure marked the beginning of the oil era and the second industrial revolution in the 20th century, just as the introduction of the steam engine, the locomotive, and the railway infrastructure marked the beginning of the coal era and the first industrial revolution in the 19th century.