--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often motivated by a desire to maintain…" description: "\"Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing status quo, sloth almost cost the U.S. its auto industry, as it refused for decades to build fuel-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png" --- # Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing… ![“Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing status quo, sloth almost cost the U.S. its auto industry, as it refused for decades to build fuel-efficient cars to compete with Japanese, Korean and European imports.” quote by Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png) > “Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing status quo, sloth almost cost the U.S. its auto industry, as it refused for decades to build fuel-efficient cars to compete with Japanese, Korean and European imports.” [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complacency and resistance to change nearly caused the U.S. auto sector to fall behind global competitors. **In simple terms:** Stubbornness hurt U.S. auto industry. Key Takeaway Embrace innovation and efficiency. Themes industry innovation competition Mood critical analytical Type historical strategic When to use this quote - automotive design - policy making - business strategy Key Concepts strategic inertia global market technology adoption Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent adopting new tech? - How can accountability balance tradition and innovation? A Different Perspective Change can be costly and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auto industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auto-industry/) [Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost Auto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-auto-4857010/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuel/) [Imports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imports/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Industry Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry-refused-4857007/) [Korean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korean/) [Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated/) [Refused Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused-decades-4857009/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) [Sloth Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth-cost-4857008/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) ## Related quotes > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We hear a lot about rebuilding Detroit, and we just spent $70 billion to bail out the auto industry - well, they need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/we-hear-a-lot-about-rebuilding-detroit-and-we-just-spent-70-billion/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [The overarching goal of Tesla is to help reduce carbon emissions and that means low cost and high volume. We will also serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-overarching-goal-of-tesla-is-to-help-reduce-carbon-emissions-and/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Health care costs blunt the competitive edge of American entrepreneurs, from the auto industry to internet start-ups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-allen/health-care-costs-blunt-the-competitive-edge-of-american/) [Tom Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-allen/) > [IT and the entire communications business clearly have the greatest potential for growth. But if you're talking about sheer size, the steel and auto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/it-and-the-entire-communications-business-clearly-have-the-greatest/) [Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/) > [In the auto industry, there's one thing you can always count on: if a new environmental or safety rule is proposed, executives will prophesy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/in-the-auto-industry-there-s-one-thing-you-can-always-count-on-if-a/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [I’m a capitalist, not a corporatist. I’m not someone who believes we should be bailing out corporations whether their auto industries, or banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-m-a-capitalist-not-a-corporatist-i-m-not-someone-who-believes-we/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side, we would be driving foreign cars. They would have let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/if-it-were-up-to-the-candidates-for-president-on-the-republican-side/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [The president mentioned the auto industry and that somehow I would be favor of jobs being elsewhere. Nothing could be further from the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-president-mentioned-the-auto-industry-and-that-somehow-i-would-be/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I do know that all of the Michigan delegation worked very hard as related to the revival of the auto industry. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-do-know-that-all-of-the-michigan-delegation-worked-very-hard-as/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I'm convinced we're going to rebuild not only the auto industry, but the economy better and stronger than before. And at its heart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-convinced-we-re-going-to-rebuild-not-only-the-auto-industry-but/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [With autonomous cars, you're gonna see more consolidation. Once we have transport modules, you order off the phone and brands won't matter anymore. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lutz/with-autonomous-cars-you-re-gonna-see-more-consolidation-once-we-have/) [Bob Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lutz/) > [If horses had controlled investment decisions, there would have been no auto industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-horses-had-controlled-investment-decisions-there-would-have-been/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We commend GM for being the first out of the starting gate in the Great Plug-In Car Race of 2007. GM's announcements are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-kramer/we-commend-gm-for-being-the-first-out-of-the-starting-gate-in-the/) [Felix Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-kramer/) > [The auto industry has come roaring back, and housing has begun to rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-auto-industry-has-come-roaring-back-and-housing-has-begun-to-rise/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Simon Mainwaring > [In today's social business marketplace Facebook is one of the best places for nonprofits to be discovered and connect with a larger audience on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/in-today-s-social-business-marketplace-facebook-is-one-of-the-best/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The new dynamics between brands and consumers, driven by social media, are proving to be a powerful impetus for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-new-dynamics-between-brands-and-consumers-driven-by-social-media/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Effectively, change is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation and consensus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/effectively-change-is-almost-impossible-without-industry-wide/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Transforming a brand into a socially responsible leader doesn't happen overnight by simply writing new marketing and advertising strategies. It takes effort to identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/transforming-a-brand-into-a-socially-responsible-leader-doesn-t/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The launch of Google+ apps sends a powerful signal - the personalized web has begun. What this means is that the way information is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-launch-of-google-apps-sends-a-powerful-signal-the-personalized/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Done correctly, everyone from individual speakers to large organizations can inspire citizens and customers to spread a message using their own social channels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/done-correctly-everyone-from-individual-speakers-to-large/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Companies, to date, have often used the excuse that they are only beholden to their shareholders, but we need shareholders to think of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/companies-to-date-have-often-used-the-excuse-that-they-are-only/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [No one doubts the enormity of the social challenges we face around the world but one critical element of our response must be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/no-one-doubts-the-enormity-of-the-social-challenges-we-face-around/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The companies that make meaningful contributions while also listening to the voices of others are the ones that will genuinely engage their community, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-companies-that-make-meaningful-contributions-while-also-listening/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Corporations, consumers, and citizens must begin acting in concert to create a powerful third pillar of social transformation if we hope to meet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/corporations-consumers-and-citizens-must-begin-acting-in-concert-to/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The theory of social contracts extends as far back as Plato. However, it was the great 18th century social philosophers John Locke, Thomas Hobbes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-theory-of-social-contracts-extends-as-far-back-as-plato-however/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Since most corporate competitors have the same problems with sustainability and social reputation, it's worth trying to solve them together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/since-most-corporate-competitors-have-the-same-problems-with/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Social media is not about the exploitation of technology but service to community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/social-media-is-not-about-the-exploitation-of-technology-but-service/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [Brands must become architects of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/brands-must-become-architects-of-community/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [It is time for corporate America to become 'the third pillar' of social change in our society, complementing the first two pillars of government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/it-is-time-for-corporate-america-to-become-the-third-pillar-of-social/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) [Explore all 127 Simon Mainwaring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) ## More Auto industry quotes > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We commend GM for being the first out of the starting gate in the Great Plug-In Car Race of 2007. GM's announcements are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-kramer/we-commend-gm-for-being-the-first-out-of-the-starting-gate-in-the/) [Felix Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-kramer/) > [If horses had controlled investment decisions, there would have been no auto industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-horses-had-controlled-investment-decisions-there-would-have-been/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [With autonomous cars, you're gonna see more consolidation. Once we have transport modules, you order off the phone and brands won't matter anymore. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lutz/with-autonomous-cars-you-re-gonna-see-more-consolidation-once-we-have/) [Bob Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lutz/) > [I'm convinced we're going to rebuild not only the auto industry, but the economy better and stronger than before. And at its heart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-convinced-we-re-going-to-rebuild-not-only-the-auto-industry-but/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I do know that all of the Michigan delegation worked very hard as related to the revival of the auto industry. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-do-know-that-all-of-the-michigan-delegation-worked-very-hard-as/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [The president mentioned the auto industry and that somehow I would be favor of jobs being elsewhere. Nothing could be further from the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-president-mentioned-the-auto-industry-and-that-somehow-i-would-be/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side, we would be driving foreign cars. They would have let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/if-it-were-up-to-the-candidates-for-president-on-the-republican-side/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [I’m a capitalist, not a corporatist. I’m not someone who believes we should be bailing out corporations whether their auto industries, or banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-m-a-capitalist-not-a-corporatist-i-m-not-someone-who-believes-we/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [In the auto industry, there's one thing you can always count on: if a new environmental or safety rule is proposed, executives will prophesy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/in-the-auto-industry-there-s-one-thing-you-can-always-count-on-if-a/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [IT and the entire communications business clearly have the greatest potential for growth. But if you're talking about sheer size, the steel and auto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/it-and-the-entire-communications-business-clearly-have-the-greatest/) [Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/) > [Health care costs blunt the competitive edge of American entrepreneurs, from the auto industry to internet start-ups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-allen/health-care-costs-blunt-the-competitive-edge-of-american/) [Tom Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-allen/) > [The overarching goal of Tesla is to help reduce carbon emissions and that means low cost and high volume. We will also serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-overarching-goal-of-tesla-is-to-help-reduce-carbon-emissions-and/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [We hear a lot about rebuilding Detroit, and we just spent $70 billion to bail out the auto industry - well, they need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/we-hear-a-lot-about-rebuilding-detroit-and-we-just-spent-70-billion/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [The auto industry has come roaring back, and housing has begun to rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-auto-industry-has-come-roaring-back-and-housing-has-begun-to-rise/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 58 Auto industry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auto-industry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing status quo, sloth almost cost the U.S. its auto industry, as it refused for decades to build fuel-efficient cars to compete with Japanese, Korean and European imports.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Mainwaring" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain-the-existing-status-quo-sloth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auto industry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain-the-existing-status-quo-sloth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/simon-mainwaring-3578_auto-industry_often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain_2204671.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Often motivated by a desire to maintain the existing status quo, sloth almost cost the U.S. its auto…” — Simon Mainwaring", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Simon Mainwaring", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Often motivated by a desire to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain-the-existing-status-quo-sloth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/often-motivated-by-a-desire-to-maintain-the-existing-status-quo-sloth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```