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Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

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101–110 of 224 posts

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#101
post #57

Elon Musk's empire is a house of cards built on self promotion and empty promises. It's only a matter of time before the whole thing comes crashing down.

Those CG and Kerbel rocket launches they broadcast were incredibly realistic, I'm amazed that NASA, independent photographers and even competitors like ULA went along with such a complex charade.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#102
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The AMZN model won't work b/c no matter how good Tesla's products are, he won't be allowed to create a monopoly. The zeitgeist has shifted, and VC's and investors who are betting on future market domination or monopolies are going to be disappointed.

They're not going to be a monopoly. They will be the only company on the planet that can produce the motors and batteries(!!) that are required for high quality and reliable EVs. Tesla will make some cars for Tesla fans. Tesla will make billions selling key parts to everyone else. So they'll be the new Bosch of EVs, really.

This is exactly the kind of junk that makes HN the cesspool that it has become. Do you really think that only Tesla can make electric motors, despite it being a mature, 150-year-old industry in which Tesla ships only about 15% of the electric cars? Where Nissan ships product at a dramatically lower price? Did you know that trains and elevators and blenders are also electric, and companies like Alstom and Kawasaki and Bosch make them?

By the way Tesla hasn't made a battery, ever. They are made by Panasonic. Tesla packs them into little metal boxes.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#103
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla?

Isn't the parent's point that they are not profitable?

Sure, maybe for Tesla, (and other similar growth at all cost technology companies) it it's not immediately profitable. Let's check back in 10 years and see if this makes Tesla and their investors any money.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla?

> Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? From your "context": "What are the accumulated losses so far? $5-10B?" $5-10B Losses doesn't translate into "profitable". > Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla? Maybe? Electric cars existed before TSLA and electric cars will exist after TSLA. What is…

So? Why does this bother you? Why can't people be fans of a person, company or product?

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#105
post #80
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whether Tesla survives or not, these billions are some of the best spent money on the planet in the last 50 years. What are the accumulated losses so far? $5-10B? Even if Tesla were to spend another $50B and go bankrupt, I would still maintain it's great. What Tesla has achieved is so important in the long run for the environment, for ending the strategic dependence on oil dictatorships, and for renewing the belief i…

So what has been the net reduction of CO2 usage because of tesla to date?

A tiny reduction in the rate of increase of CO2 emissions. Every bit helps, but it's not saving the planet.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#106
post #80
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whether Tesla survives or not, these billions are some of the best spent money on the planet in the last 50 years. What are the accumulated losses so far? $5-10B? Even if Tesla were to spend another $50B and go bankrupt, I would still maintain it's great. What Tesla has achieved is so important in the long run for the environment, for ending the strategic dependence on oil dictatorships, and for renewing the belief i…

So what has been the net reduction of CO2 usage because of tesla to date?

I'm going to venture that it's not even a rounding error.

In fact, in places it will likely have increased the CO2 emissions, again rounding error figures, due to the electricity generation mix and associated losses with generating that electricity (30-60% efficiency), plus transport losses (0.5 - 10%), plus charging loses, plus the efficiency of the motor itself.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm not sure why you're so upset. I'm not. But it's interesting how I just got swarmed by 3 commenters. > The comment you are quoting is a snippet out of context. The context makes it even worse. "None of us can unlearn what Tesla has taught us. There is no way back now. Tesla has already won.'" I can't believe you think that the "context" makes it any less cultish. The comment is almost messianic.

Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla?

"Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable?" No, they didn't.

Nobody doubted they were viable or profitable, only desired. If TSLA accomplished anything, it was convincing people they are desired. That demand definitely did not exist before TSLA.

Your comment implies all these things were already the case. That electric was "always inveitable", and tesla just proved it. That's, IMHO, quite wrong.

as is this: "Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla?"

You understand, for example, the bolt started design in 2012, right?

IE At the same time the model S did.

Others in your list are similar.

It's like saying success of the iPhone caused Google to release Android.

I'm with the OP, every single one of these threads seems some combination of cultish love for tesla and messianic adoration of elon.

As a complete outside observer, the distinct impression i get is of people who always loved electric cars, etc, who felt like the rest of the world was "wrong" about something, thinking they have now been proved "right" about something.

The only practical difference between TSLA and the other auto makers I see is that the others by and large followed demand (IE they wait for people to want a thing, then build that), and TSLA was able to create some demand.

That's awesome and a testament to great PR/etc. But it's pretty also pretty normal successful startup behavior,and may or may not be related to any of the "moral goodness" people see in electric vehicles.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm not sure why you're so upset. I'm not. But it's interesting how I just got swarmed by 3 commenters. > The comment you are quoting is a snippet out of context. The context makes it even worse. "None of us can unlearn what Tesla has taught us. There is no way back now. Tesla has already won.'" I can't believe you think that the "context" makes it any less cultish. The comment is almost messianic.

Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla?

Toyota may have had a part in that... The stage was set before TSLA was a household stock symbol.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#109
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putting Tesla anywhere near a list of factors for "ending strategic dependence on oil dictatorships" is pure hyperbole at best.

Maybe, but what about what Musk has done as a whole? If he can drive home-battery adoption, solar, and electric vehicles, and create markets where companies like GM, Ford, and the Euro manufacturers have to chase the new market, that has to make a huge impact. Obviously it's not going to completely remove our dependence (mainly plastics and shipping) but it will absolutely hit the bottom line of the most oppressive r…

On the plastics front, just look at the news from earlier this week of Lego working to replace all of the plastics used in their toys with bio-plastics (or other non-oil based polymers). A few more efforts like that and plastics won't be anywhere near the driver of oil consumption they are now. That doesn't address shipping (which is horrendously polluting), but if that's the last one standing that's still a massive improvement.

Re: Tesla Burns Through Record Cash to Bring the Model 3 to Market

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is he wrong? Did Tesla not prove to the rest of the auto industry that electric cars are not only viable but also profitable and inevitable? From your "context": "What are the accumulated losses so far? $5-10B?" $5-10B Losses doesn't translate into "profitable". > Would we have the Bolt, Spark, Fiat e500, eGolf without Tesla? Maybe? Electric cars existed before TSLA and electric cars will exist after TSLA. What is…

So? Why does this bother you? Why can't people be fans of a person, company or product?

The grandparent's argument wasn't against fans, it was against cults.
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