Bill Vlasic:

The pace of change isn’t limited to the vehicle itself, but also how it is designed, engineered, manufactured and sold.

With automakers fighting fiercely for new customers in the U.S. market, innovation can mean the difference between success and failure.

“The ability of the industry to create variety at a low cost is greater than it ever has been,” said David Cole, director of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. “The cost of risk is decreasing.”