Automotive Stocks

Let's hope so. Humans are so bad at driving and technology seems destined to take over in this space. The real question is, how do we capitalize on it, investment wise. You would think Google is in the best position, but they are so big and their valuations are impossible to understand.

Think along the lines of the companies that make the sensors and electronics (MBLY, STM...), mapping, comm towers (anybody other than AMT?), and later on trucking companies (if the unions don't derail that).

I agree. And despite some Silicone Valley players entering the game, I believe it will continue to be the traditional automotive OEMs that will dominate the industry. There will be (and is) technology from the high techs in cars. But the water will still be carried by the Fords, GMs, Toyotas, Mercedes, etc. of the world. In fact, if Tim Cook gets it wrong, I see this foray into the automotive space as a major risk to Apple going forward. Playing with cars can eat up even the biggest cash pile. Even Tesla is no threat to the major OEMs. It's a fun company to follow and I see more than a few innovations coming out of Tesla. But they don't have BMW or even poor old GM sweating bullets.

That said, I rode Tata Motors for a nice gain up until about 2014. That's the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover. Right now I'm back in Ford and got into Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) earlier this year. Subaru's continued sales records have been impressive. Honda and Toyota are steady plays, but I don't have a position in either. And I see GM as a rudderless ship. As soon as they get something semi-fixed, within a year or two, it's screwed up again (e.g., Cadillac).

For shizzles & giggles, I'll go for a few shares of Ferrari, after it settles down post IPO. That's just a vanity play though, not a true investment.