The world’s first open source car  |  April 4, 2007  

As I’ve talked about the growth of the open source movement over the last few years, I’ve often speculated about how many different products and services could be created in a similar way. While some people are quick to agree, many others are resistant to the idea - surely complex products can’t embrace an open source creation process, can they? Wouldn’t it just lead to chaos?

Well earlier this week the world’s first open source car was revealed - a vehicle that’s technical drawings and blueprints are available online, and everyone is invited to add their own ideas so long as they are shared with the community. So if you can design a car this way… what can’t you do?

At the same time, it’s important to note that some important structure was added to the design process - a focus on environmental sustainability. This helped overcome the problem I mentioned in an earlier post on OScar, which was (and is, though it remains in early conceptual stages) trying to bring the open source movement to car design.

OScar found out the hard way that with no parameters in place, it’s kind of hard to come to an agreement on what an ideal car should be between (say) a racing enthusiast and someone more interested in environmental issues.

But as many companies have found, having too many parameters in place stifles innovation. Sometimes all you need is a guiding concept, an open platform, and the ingenuity and innovation that naturally flows out of an interested an engaged community.

Don Tapscott

Be sure to check out Don's cover story in the next issue of Backbone. Until then, check out his wikinomics blog.