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Tesla Q1 2021 Results

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211–220 of 591 posts

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#211
post #132

Whatever you may think of Tesla and Musk, you have to agree that they've accomplished something rather incredible. Few would have thought this possible not that long ago: * 185K vehicle deliveries in Q1, +109% versus a year ago [a] * 2.7K supercharger stations, +41% versus a year ago * 24.5K supercharger connectors, +44% versus a year ago * 92 MW of solar generation deployed in Q1, +163% versus a year ago * 445 MWh o…

I have two separate and (mostly) unrelated feelings. Musk has done something remarkable as you say. At the same time, the market cap is nuts and a portent of doom. Bigger than all car companies combined, by market cap? A market crash could take down Tesla and set back electric car adoption by 20 years.

A few years ago I'd agree it would be a major EV setback but there are so many other options now I don't think that's the case any longer.

I'm very optimistic about Rivian. It's Tesla but without the ego thinking they are smarter than 50 years of manufacturing lessons.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#212
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Model 3 is a premium sedan ? Oh :/ Where are my paint color options, ventilated seats ? What about parts for my local car shop ? Did they forgot the safety features unique to german cars ?

Now compare 0-60 and infotainment systems. Is premium how fast the car goes, or how many paint colors it comes in? Different people have different requirements. You are likely paying over 100k to get a car as fast as a model 3.

Premium sedan has nothing to do with 0-100 km/h times. Those don't differ between segments.

What Model 3 lacks is quality interior and options.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have two separate and (mostly) unrelated feelings. Musk has done something remarkable as you say. At the same time, the market cap is nuts and a portent of doom. Bigger than all car companies combined, by market cap? A market crash could take down Tesla and set back electric car adoption by 20 years.

A few years ago I'd agree it would be a major EV setback but there are so many other options now I don't think that's the case any longer. I'm very optimistic about Rivian. It's Tesla but without the ego thinking they are smarter than 50 years of manufacturing lessons.

They drive the first two Rivian's in the Long Way Up documentary with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman who ride early Harley Davidson Livewire motorcycles.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#214
post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say no, they don't regret it, because there'd be too much of a personality clash between Musk and the rest of Apple leadership - and if they bought Telsa and then outed Musk, what's the point of buying Tesla?

As someone who never really liked either one (though I did buy a Tesla), Musk is nearly a clone of Jobs in affect and attitude and reality distortion effect. All those people who are SO UPSET about the spin regarding FSD, for example, are just echoing what all us folks on Linux PCs were saying about Macs through the 90's and early 00's. Remember when the Altivec G4 was a Supercomputer on a Chip despite being slower t…

> Musk is nearly a clone of Jobs in affect and attitude and reality distortion effect.

Eh, Musk has more negative tendencies than Jobs, especially related to his public behavior and honesty. Whatever you might think of Jobs, whenever he issued a firm statement it came true. iPhones were always released on schedule.

Musk is years late and many miles short on almost every product he announces. Full Self Driving was supposed to be a thing two years ago. The Tesla Model 3 was supposed to be $35,000 and was also released years late. Tesla Semi? Nonexistent. The Tesla SolarRoof that was the reason for the acquisition of SolarCity never got out of Beta.

Jobs also never had the same "$420 funding secured"/"bet you a signed dollar he's a pedophile" behavior Musk has had either. Steve Jobs was definitely a immanently flawed person, but he didn't exhibit the same degree of complete disregard of the consequences of his actions as Musk does, at least not at comparable ages.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#215
post #132

Whatever you may think of Tesla and Musk, you have to agree that they've accomplished something rather incredible. Few would have thought this possible not that long ago: * 185K vehicle deliveries in Q1, +109% versus a year ago [a] * 2.7K supercharger stations, +41% versus a year ago * 24.5K supercharger connectors, +44% versus a year ago * 92 MW of solar generation deployed in Q1, +163% versus a year ago * 445 MWh o…

I have two separate and (mostly) unrelated feelings. Musk has done something remarkable as you say. At the same time, the market cap is nuts and a portent of doom. Bigger than all car companies combined, by market cap? A market crash could take down Tesla and set back electric car adoption by 20 years.

I kindly disagree with your critique. BUT I am also very biased. This is because I am an owner of a Model Y, but I do not own any stock in Tesla whatsoever. I do not like nor trust Elon Musk, especially with my retirement.

I think people want EV's and when they see that they only need to spend a little bit extra for that extra range and access to a nationwide supercharger network. They are willing to pay for it. I don't think a drop in stock is going to change that mentality. Other automakers keep trying to build a quality EV, but they simply do not hold up to a Tesla.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#216
post #189
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the whole market declines but your share of the overall market raises and you overtake everybody else in that market that is clearly an achievement. Given that this is literally the first mass market car by Tesla, achieving leading sales globally over comparable products by BMW and Mercedes is clearly pretty important. And as they said, they hope Model Y will hopefully be the best selling vehicle globally next yea…

Even Ford stopped making the Mustang sedan. There is a move to SUVs across the auto industry. I'm not sure if winning a rapidly shrinking segment is as much of an accomplishment as Tesla wants investors to believe.

That's not accurate in any form. The Mustang was not a sedan, but a coupe, and Ford has not stopped making the Mustang in the current form. You can still order a GT500 with 12mpg city. They added an electric version, the Mach-E, which is more of a crossover format.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#217
post #7

Do you think Apple regrets not buying Tesla ~2017-2018 when they had the chance, given indications they are working on an Apple Car? Why or why not?

Why would they? They make so much money it's not even funny. Tesla is also a very different beast then iPhones, who knows if it would have been as successful.

It was always a "what the hell does Apple do with all of it's capital" question. They figured that out though -- just buy back stock. Anyone accusing them of being uncreative there has to argue that the hundreds of billions that they returned to investor hands would be better allocated with some forced merger like buying Tesla. It's not a failure to return money to shareholders. It's a recognition of the limitation of your ability to allocate capital.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#218
post #43

Why is solar deployment measured in MW and not # of installs? It doesn't seem like the best metric for measuring growth.

There are two solar installs going in my county just north of me. One is 5000 acres and one is 3500 acres. If I buy a 10kW system for my house I could increase the number of systems by 50%!

Sure, but Tesla Solar generally advertises to smaller customers. If they get one big deal, its addition might overwhelm the sustainable growth in their business. They've definitely had multiple situations like that before with their energy storage business.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#219
post #132

Whatever you may think of Tesla and Musk, you have to agree that they've accomplished something rather incredible. Few would have thought this possible not that long ago: * 185K vehicle deliveries in Q1, +109% versus a year ago [a] * 2.7K supercharger stations, +41% versus a year ago * 24.5K supercharger connectors, +44% versus a year ago * 92 MW of solar generation deployed in Q1, +163% versus a year ago * 445 MWh o…

> New S, X, Roadster, Cybertruck, and Semi models on the way

There is also a lot of noise around the sub $30k mystery car Musk hinted about at the battery event. He said $25k, but given Tesla’s pricing history, $28-30k is more likely.

Re: Tesla Q1 2021 Results

#220
post #132

Whatever you may think of Tesla and Musk, you have to agree that they've accomplished something rather incredible. Few would have thought this possible not that long ago: * 185K vehicle deliveries in Q1, +109% versus a year ago [a] * 2.7K supercharger stations, +41% versus a year ago * 24.5K supercharger connectors, +44% versus a year ago * 92 MW of solar generation deployed in Q1, +163% versus a year ago * 445 MWh o…

I have two separate and (mostly) unrelated feelings. Musk has done something remarkable as you say. At the same time, the market cap is nuts and a portent of doom. Bigger than all car companies combined, by market cap? A market crash could take down Tesla and set back electric car adoption by 20 years.

I think the cat is out of the bag for EVs: enough people have tasted them and wouldn't go back, and enough manufacturers got into the game, that even if Tesla was to fail, enough people would be asking for it, and enough manufacturers would already be advanced enough in their plans to keep the ball rolling.

Basically, Tesla's mission is 99% accomplished.

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