Given how much difficultly so many software companies have in doing this, especially sustaining it, it seems unlikely companies from other domains are capable of succeeding, especially in this domain where sustained effort is required.
And car company cultures ... I recommend two things to get an idea about them, US ones at least (for Japanese, the revelations of Toyoda's horrible software practices after their code was subject to 3rd party examination is sufficient for me):
And the bits in King of the Killing Zone (https://www.amazon.com/King-Killing-Zone-Kelly-Orr/dp/042512...), the best book I know of about the development of the superlative M1 Abrams tank, about the engineers dealing with their Chrysler car salesman boss.
His main concern, at least as described in the book, was that it looked good. Which I suspect was highlighted because it caused the most friction with the engineers and made a good story. Note that in and of itself, that's a good goal, men should feel proud about their weapons (and I can't imagine the culture of French rifle designers), but....
As it turned out, a lot of his input of this type had good results. One bit prompted the start of a design iteration where they shaved a foot off the height of the tank, which is critical for the European theater (by comparison, prior to the development of the "Silver Bullet", maximum main gun depression which translated into greater heights was key in deserts).
In the other example I remember, he insisted the side armor skirts be extended all the way to the back. Now, they were doing simulations of everything to help decide the very many trade-offs of parameters like size, weight, and protection/offensive capability, and this wasn't recommended by those.
But I guess it was a close enough call that they went ahead and did it, and not only did it improve the looks of the tank, it turned out to be important in limiting the kicking up of debris by the treads, which was critical since the M1 was the first (and only?) turbine powered tank, which requires a lot of air, and the air filtering system can deal with only so much junk.
And car company cultures ... I recommend two things to get an idea about them, US ones at least (for Japanese, the revelations of Toyoda's horrible software practices after their code was subject to 3rd party examination is sufficient for me):
Read a bit of DeLorean's On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors (hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Day-You-General-Motors/dp/09603... paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Day-You-General-Motors/dp/03805...), you'll be impressed by the insanity. Granted, things had to change after GM hit hard times, but when you start out with a base like that, well, nothing in recent decades should come as a great surprise.
And the bits in King of the Killing Zone (https://www.amazon.com/King-Killing-Zone-Kelly-Orr/dp/042512...), the best book I know of about the development of the superlative M1 Abrams tank, about the engineers dealing with their Chrysler car salesman boss.
His main concern, at least as described in the book, was that it looked good. Which I suspect was highlighted because it caused the most friction with the engineers and made a good story. Note that in and of itself, that's a good goal, men should feel proud about their weapons (and I can't imagine the culture of French rifle designers), but....
As it turned out, a lot of his input of this type had good results. One bit prompted the start of a design iteration where they shaved a foot off the height of the tank, which is critical for the European theater (by comparison, prior to the development of the "Silver Bullet", maximum main gun depression which translated into greater heights was key in deserts).
In the other example I remember, he insisted the side armor skirts be extended all the way to the back. Now, they were doing simulations of everything to help decide the very many trade-offs of parameters like size, weight, and protection/offensive capability, and this wasn't recommended by those.
But I guess it was a close enough call that they went ahead and did it, and not only did it improve the looks of the tank, it turned out to be important in limiting the kicking up of debris by the treads, which was critical since the M1 was the first (and only?) turbine powered tank, which requires a lot of air, and the air filtering system can deal with only so much junk.