Though new entrants could undoubtedly disrupt incumbents production platforms Elon Musk s Tesla Motors is a clear example they are rare. These days, the more pervasive competitive threat comes from companies in other domains that can erode the customer value proposition after the car is sold.

While a similar initiative failed in Oregon, and Proposition 19 (which called for limited legalization of cannabis) was defeated in California in 2010 (by seven percentage points), the outcome in Colorado and Washington sent a powerful message to the rest of the US. The results have not only created a conflict between US federal law and state legislation, but also signal a shift in attitudes not dissimilar to that concerning same sex marriage.