BMW Overtakes Tesla in European EV Sales for First Time

We've never known how poplar Tesla is vs electric cars. For a long time they were the only option outside of a few individual models (Leaf, i3, Volt). They were easily the most well known.

We're at the point where Tesla will stop being a near default choice as people realize they have other options. So we'll start to find out what their popularity really is.

The US has also been distorted by the charging network issue, but as more and more manufacturers get access to the Tesla network in the next few years that will cease to be an advantage too.

Yes, Tesla's execution has been really terrible. There's some really good tech inside their cars, but the direction of which cars to make, when, and the investments in non-car tech, the over-promising of "Full Self Driving," etc. All huge detractors.

There's also the CEO, who has a huge public profile, deciding to become extremely political, which smart CEOs usually avoid doing because it has little potential to help and lots of potential to hurt.

Especially with Musk's particular choice of which politics he wants to push, which alienate not only customers but also the government political forces. Tesla has massively benefited from subsidies to EVs, but is alienating the political party that has enabled all of that.

If Tesla had been run by a different CEO for the past, say, 3 years, nearly any CEO, I think it would be in a better position.

I really like my Model 3, but I won't be buying it again, and the direction of the Cyber Truck is so repulsive to me that I'm really really against being associated with the brand at all.

> Don't they pack the batteries in the floor, making the car necessarily higher? Isn't this the biggest difference?

Batteries in the floor make a good amount of sense if done right.

1. Just the battery for a -hybrid- (1.1kWh) can weigh at least half as much as a 3 cylinder engine. putting it either under the front or in the trunk is an issue, as now you have to have a more reinforced firewall or reinforced whatever to keep the battery from being an additional force in an impact.

2. Lower center of gravity is always a good thing.

> And the weight, of course.

3. Weight is interesting because we start to see some of the fun 'delta-V' issues. As an example look at the GMC Hummer EV, the F-150 Lightning, and the Cybertruck. You can see that as the weight goes up the amount of battery to increase range also goes waaayyyy up.

I hear people say this bit then I see those same people go and buy Teslas anyway. The real reason Tesla is suffering is because they've not delivered on innovation, quality, or price in a long time.