Tesla - Will they make it, and do they deserve to?
Discussion
I've just finished watching "The Revenge of the Electric Car", a documentary film made a few years ago about the rise of electric cars in the USA. It follows Bob Lutz in his fight for the Volt; Elon Musk in the start of Tesla and some guy in a shed making electric Porsche Speedsters. Interesting documentary, and great behind the scenes stuff of Lutz and Musk (if you're interested in the business side of the car industry, there's lots to like).
Anyway, Tesla is mentioned quite liberally, with Musk going on about how he's "transferring his last $3m" to fulfil payroll obligations blah blah. I wondered what they were up to these days so took a look at their website - they've made quite the transformation from knocking out electric Elises.
There's the Model-X under development, some X6-alike electric crossover:
And this seems to be the prod-spec Model S, some sort of 5-Series rival with up to 7 seats:
They both look amazing, and it's incredible to think how far they've come in just a few years. The cars look stunning IMO.
Still heavily in debt, and seem to be a bit rocky on the financial front, so do we think they'll make it, and are they building the right cars to make it?
Anyway, Tesla is mentioned quite liberally, with Musk going on about how he's "transferring his last $3m" to fulfil payroll obligations blah blah. I wondered what they were up to these days so took a look at their website - they've made quite the transformation from knocking out electric Elises.
There's the Model-X under development, some X6-alike electric crossover:
And this seems to be the prod-spec Model S, some sort of 5-Series rival with up to 7 seats:
They both look amazing, and it's incredible to think how far they've come in just a few years. The cars look stunning IMO.
Still heavily in debt, and seem to be a bit rocky on the financial front, so do we think they'll make it, and are they building the right cars to make it?
I want them to be successful but I am not sure they have the right approach to selling their product. This is their show room in the local Mall.
I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
h0b0 said:
I want them to be successful but I am not sure they have the right approach to selling their product. This is their show room in the local Mall.
I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
With 'emerging' tech like Tesla, you need a 'rich' clientele who are willing to pay a lot for something new. See Prius' as an example. Get stars etc into them, and those rich buyers will fund the company down the line, so they need an image, and cutting edge 'fashion' is as good as any way. I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
h0b0 said:
I want them to be successful but I am not sure they have the right approach to selling their product. This is their show room in the local Mall.
I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
How many "stores" do they have?I understand that they are trying to be a product like an iPod by placing their products in the same locations but there is a big difference in the costs. As if to prove they want to be Apple their other location near me is in Meat packing NYC just around the corner from Apple again.
I've often thought about these sorts of "stores" to retail cars rather than dealerships - Ferrari and Citroen operate some pretty cool brand flagships on the Champs-Élysées - but people still want to DRIVE the cars before they buy them, I guess.
delays said:
How many "stores" do they have?
I've often thought about these sorts of "stores" to retail cars rather than dealerships - Ferrari and Citroen operate some pretty cool brand flagships on the Champs-Élysées - but people still want to DRIVE the cars before they buy them, I guess.
Do Tesla not offer test drives?I've often thought about these sorts of "stores" to retail cars rather than dealerships - Ferrari and Citroen operate some pretty cool brand flagships on the Champs-Élysées - but people still want to DRIVE the cars before they buy them, I guess.
I'm massively impressed by the Model S. The interior is a bit, um, American-looking, but they seem to be doing it right - this stuff needs to be premium and flash-looking to sell initially - it's a much better idea than trying to convince us that a smallish Nissan with a practical 70 mile range is worth north of 20k.
We had a look at their model S in their store in Santa Monica. It's pretty impressive how far they've moved from conventional thinking and i was tempted at the time.Then I saw one driving down to Newport Beach and it looked like a classic blobby American sedan, which put me right off. I like the whole concept more than their design
BevR said:
Whats going to be different when it hits the UK?
I drove the Roadster which was on sale in the UK from 2007 or thereabouts iirc. Left a gap in traffic about 150-200m long (traffic doing about 10mph) to open it up, put my foot down and reached the car in front of me in the queue before the van that was behind me had even moved from where it had been stationary behind me, loved it!
As a car enthusiast - the thing that depresses me is how youve typically got about 5 manufacturers sharing a platform. These days its all about the "efficiency" and the enjoyment factor that you would like to see is missing.
Tesla have at least bought something new and different to the table - and for that i would like to see them succeed. I think what the industry needs is more real landmark cars.
Im thinking cars like the Lexus LS 400, the original Range Rover, the Audi Quattro and even the original Nissan Primera. They all have something in common in that their manufacturers bought to market something that was either beyond their comfort zone or was new to market.
The LS 400 bought Toyota successfully into the luxury car market - giving rivals a real shock - and the Mk 1 Primera - bought a new dimension that was never before on a Nissan family car - it was a car designed to be enjoyed by the driving enthusiast. The Range Rover on the other hand - bought some extra refinement to the working 4 wheel drive - and then went on to be a luxury car that could really do the business off road.
The new one (Range Rover) appears excellent from early reviews - but the issue is that fabulous as it is - it is really just another step on the road for an existing concept.
You know things are bad when one starts to at least respect the Prius because its something different and interesting.
Sir Fergie
The Ampera at least is making a decent fist of anwsering the call for a real landmark car that brings something new and fresh to market.
Tesla have at least bought something new and different to the table - and for that i would like to see them succeed. I think what the industry needs is more real landmark cars.
Im thinking cars like the Lexus LS 400, the original Range Rover, the Audi Quattro and even the original Nissan Primera. They all have something in common in that their manufacturers bought to market something that was either beyond their comfort zone or was new to market.
The LS 400 bought Toyota successfully into the luxury car market - giving rivals a real shock - and the Mk 1 Primera - bought a new dimension that was never before on a Nissan family car - it was a car designed to be enjoyed by the driving enthusiast. The Range Rover on the other hand - bought some extra refinement to the working 4 wheel drive - and then went on to be a luxury car that could really do the business off road.
The new one (Range Rover) appears excellent from early reviews - but the issue is that fabulous as it is - it is really just another step on the road for an existing concept.
You know things are bad when one starts to at least respect the Prius because its something different and interesting.
Sir Fergie
The Ampera at least is making a decent fist of anwsering the call for a real landmark car that brings something new and fresh to market.
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