Interview with Mary Barra

[67since67]

Originally Posted by 70 copo

Wayne,

John Deere... has decided to take on the farmers. Like Harley Davidson John Deere has made a calculated decision to show the people who buy, use and depend on its products "who is the boss"

Quick Background on what this issue is:

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/...repair-illegal

Now a farmer is taking Deer to the mat:

“The spirit of the right-to-repair is the birthright we all share as a hot-rodding nation,” he says, channeling his inner Thomas Jefferson and Big Daddy Don Garlits".

"Big Tractor says farmers have no right to access the copyrighted software that controls every facet of today’s equipment, even to repair their own machines".

The computer sees a problem and the entire tractor is bricked right then and there - often in the field until an authorized Deere Rep can arrive to fix it or haul it back to the dealer.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...00-000-tractor

SO...What do you want to bet that with the newest electric car technology - GM will likely go full tilt in the near future with the kinds of intellectual control (“an implied license") the enforcement tactic of choice that Deer has in place today BTW all conveniently wrapped in the need for "safety" of course.

I happen to live within ten miles of the Deere engine plant, Product Engineering Center where Deere tractor development happens, and the factory that builds the largest Deere tractors that are shipped world-wide.
I am also connected to the farming community. There is a push-back of sorts going on from the smaller farming operations (under 3,000 acres) against this technology, it's cost and related inconvenience. There is a surge in values and sales of older pre-computerized tractors and equipment. 40 year old tractors, Deere 4440 and such, are in high demand because of their dependability, relatively low cost and ease of maintenance. On the other hand, the new several hundred thousand dollar tractors continue to sell also.

Bill W