Premcar turns 30 in 2026. To celebrate, we’re sharing some of our carmaking knowledge. This time, it’s the about the role of optimism.
An abstract concept lives at the centre of carmakimg.
It’s optimism.
Woven within the engineering, hard sciences and manufacturing processes is the perception of what’s possible.
The ability of engineers, designers and leaders to selectively anticipate positive outcomes is essential in our business and our industry.
The reasoning is simple.
It’s easy to think ‘it’s all too hard’ in carmaking.
It’s too expensive. It will take too long. Buyers won’t want it.
The segment is shrinking. Buyers are migrating. There’s no other way to tool that part.
The list is endless.
But Churchill was spot-on when he said, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
Carmaking is impossible without this mindset.
That’s because carmaking is riddled with difficulties.
And that’s because complexity sits at the heart of carmaking.
The automaker’s role is to simplify and navigate these complexities on the road to creating cars people want to buy.
And this requires the right doses of optimism.
Not just in a few critical team members, but across the culture of the organisation – and especially from the top of the business.
If you let the difficulties stare you down every time, you’ll never get past the first sketch.
But if you can see the opportunity in every difficulty, you’ll advance to the target, every time.
This isn’t about fooling yourself with make-believe positivity.
This is about a hardwired mindset that converts carmaking possibilities into successful commercial realities.
Which is why optimism, and having the resilience to preserve it and protect it, is essential.
Bernie Quinn, CEO of Premcar
About Premcar:
Premcar Pty Ltd is a leading Australian vehicle engineering business that specialises in the automotive, defence and aerospace industries. For 30 years, global car-makers have made Premcar their go-to partner for the complete design, engineering and manufacture of niche-model new cars, full-scale new-vehicle development programs, and electric vehicle (EV) conversions and manufacturing. Premcar’s body of work is extensive. It is the name behind more than 213,000 new cars and 55,000 new-vehicle engines. The company has delivered technical advancements and sales success for major car brands from Europe, the USA, Japan, China and Australia. Visit premcar.au.
