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2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

automobilemag.com

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Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#21

Post by jcfrei »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #14

They need a lot more dealerships. Look at the map of their dealers and there's a huge hole in the middle of the country. A couple in Chicago, one in Denver, and one in Houston. That's it. If you live in say Tennessee you're looking at close to a 10 hour drive to even see one. http://www.teslamotors.com/locations

remember, tesla is not actually selling cars inside their "dealerships". customers still have to do this themselves on the tesla homepage - and even then it's just a reservation. source from a previous hacker news thread: http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/tesla-plans-short-cir...

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#22

Post by MatthewPhillips »

jcfrei wrote: post #21
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #14

They need a lot more dealerships. Look at the map of their dealers and there's a huge hole in the middle of the country. A couple in Chicago, one in Denver, and one in Houston. That's it. If you live in say Tennessee you're looking at close to a 10 hour drive to even see one. http://www.teslamotors.com/locations

remember, tesla is not actually selling cars inside their "dealerships". customers still have to do this themselves on the tesla homepage - and even then it's just a reservation. source from a previous hacker news thread: http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/tesla-plans-short-cir...

You can't buy a Roadster?

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#23

Post by CamperBob2 »

martythemaniak wrote: post #6

Even if Tesla do not survive, ten years from now every new electric car will be a descendant of the Model S in all the major ways - floor-mounted battery pack, lack of physical buttons, etc.

I'm a big Tesla fan, but I disagree. The only way electric cars can possibly make sense is if the batteries are swappable. The electric cars being built now are evolutionary dead ends, IMHO.

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#24

Post by timdorr »

tocomment wrote: post #20
rdl wrote: post #12

If they can get to volume production, I think the $50-60k models, leased, could be great sellers. The really interesting thing would be to rip off Better Place's model and lease the cars at a discounted monthly payment plus a per-mile "fuel equivalence" charge. It's just accounting, but you could basically price the Model S at BMW 3-series lease rates (or even Toyota Avalon!), plus a per-mile fuel cost which was 10-2…

That's a really great idea. It's kind of like the Solar City model applied to cars. I wonder if anyone has thought of that?

Considering Elon Musk is both CEO of Tesla and Chairman of Solar City, maybe he has.

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#25

Post by moted »

correctifier wrote: post #19
martythemaniak wrote: post #6

Even if Tesla do not survive, ten years from now every new electric car will be a descendant of the Model S in all the major ways - floor-mounted battery pack, lack of physical buttons, etc.

The Model S is a revolutionary car, but I really hope the the big touch display without physical buttons doesn't become the norm. I really prefer the feedback you get from them while keeping your eyes on the road, especially for common functions like the temperature and basic stereo control. People will disagree with me, but I have really grown to like the current iDrive system which lets me keep my looking up high w…

I prefer tactile response as well, however I'd guess that good voice activated controls will be introduced soon enough.

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#26

Post by timdorr »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #22
jcfrei wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

remember, tesla is not actually selling cars inside their "dealerships". customers still have to do this themselves on the tesla homepage - and even then it's just a reservation. source from a previous hacker news thread: http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/tesla-plans-short-cir...

You can't buy a Roadster?

Nope. They stopped selling them in August 2011 when their supply of Lotus Elise gliders ran out.

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#27

Post by kalininalex »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #23
martythemaniak wrote: post #6

Even if Tesla do not survive, ten years from now every new electric car will be a descendant of the Model S in all the major ways - floor-mounted battery pack, lack of physical buttons, etc.

I'm a big Tesla fan, but I disagree. The only way electric cars can possibly make sense is if the batteries are swappable. The electric cars being built now are evolutionary dead ends, IMHO.

The battery on Model S IS swappable, in fact quick-swappable, at least per Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/18/idUS24518959652011...)

Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S

#28

Post by timdorr »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #14

They need a lot more dealerships. Look at the map of their dealers and there's a huge hole in the middle of the country. A couple in Chicago, one in Denver, and one in Houston. That's it. If you live in say Tennessee you're looking at close to a 10 hour drive to even see one. http://www.teslamotors.com/locations

Tesla's strategy for retail is designed by George Blankenship, who created Apple's retail strategy. As a result, you should expect a similar approach: Stores built out near major population centers first until you have 80-90% of the country within a 100-50 mile range of a Tesla location.
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