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Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

economist.com

31–40 of 463 posts

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#31
post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

> I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. I'm not sure outsourcing manufacturing and focusing on design works in auto industry - but could be wrong.

like how they outsourced their chips, right? They only designed a square with a M1 stamped on it.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's very good at pushing people to work overtime.

Is it like Steve Jobs and his workers took who the abuse because they were paid well? Or they had Stockholm syndrome?

It is more the latter than the former, plus wanting to have name X on the CV.

Games industry follows a similar pattern.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#33
post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

> I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. I'm not sure outsourcing manufacturing and focusing on design works in auto industry - but could be wrong.

[deleted]

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#34
post #18

Cathie Wood is not going to like this. I think her bear case is TSLA is a $7T company by 2026. I can’t say I agree with her.

She is amazing, somehow manages to take Elon at his word on everything when even his biggest fans use phrases like "Elon time" Her valuation makes sense if you think Tesla's going to dominate the car industry and robotaxi and displace truckers with FSD and have Tesla robots replace all factory workers and nurse, rent out the supreme dojo chips to the whole world, etc.

A good thing to remember here is that most of the media-based investing is the product that Wall Street* sells. Cathie Woods' job is marketing and sales. She needs to make "big bets" or say outlandish things because her market niche is hyper-focused on tech futurism. She'll take her carry and move on with her life and so long as she can always move the goalposts people will continue to invest based on that marketing. Once 2026 and Tesla isn't a $7 trillion company (though I personally think it still has massive upside if Elon quit being a fucking lunatic) she can say the pandemic or Twitter or something stymied the growth and it's actually 2036 now that it'll be a $7 trillion company and so invest now! Etc. etc.

* This is an oversimplification and financial firms do provide very valuable services and products to customers and clients around the world.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#35

Tesla owns so much data that it has collected(and will only continue to amass more in the future)from its customers that it is the very definition of a successful tech company. Economist is an embarrassment for journalism.

That's an odd definition for "tech company." Is your point, though, that that data are valuable? If so, what for?

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#36
post #26
post #14

This is true for so many "tech" darlings: Should Uber be priced like a tech company, or a cab company? Is Amazon a tech company or a retailer? Are ecommerce outlets like Warby Parker and Away tech companies, or just retailers with good CSS? It continues to amaze me how investors seem bamboozled by the appearance of "tech company-ness", by businesses which are obviously in markets that don't support the high price to…

Amazon's AWS definitely should be treated as tech.

AWS, yes. Retail? Nah.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#37
post #5

In 2021, Tesla pivoted to become the leading AI/Robotics company in the world. They had an investor day with a robot and everything.

Ok, but, have you seen Boston dynamics robots? Much more capable. In fact, what Tesla showed seem worse than the old Honda Asimo robots in terms of tech.

So to call it a leading robotics company is just so strange since they are just entering the space.

You can see that Asimo has very capable hands, which even boston dynamics robots don't. Just like in art, the hands are the hardest to replicate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMyxgmW9TyE

https://asimo.honda.com/

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#38
post #28

Tesla is a battery manufacturer that happens to make cars. Remember, they also make the Powerwall and grid-scale storage. I think the bigger question we should ask ourselves is, "What is a tech company?"

Tesla are a battery pack manufacturer, they mostly use cells manufactured by Panasonic and CATL.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#39
post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

Not sure what the general consensus on Tesla in Norway. Sure, they are great cars during the summer, but during the winter they severely lack the robustness of the traditional car manufacturers. One of them being able to open the car door!

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#40
post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

> I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. I'm not sure outsourcing manufacturing and focusing on design works in auto industry - but could be wrong.

It does, Magna's whole business model is based around that.
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