Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company? • Hacker News Board

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#11

Post by athenot » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

As of now, yes. The 2019 Nissan LEAF is projected to have meet your range requirement. I've had the 2013 and the 2015 models, they are good cars in their own right. If they made them slightly larger (but not an SUV), I'd be getting my 3rd one this year.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#12

Post by Retric » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:35 PM UTC

stephengillie wrote: post #2

Given current fuel efficiency requirements, a midsize sedan is hell for every automaker. Ford largely abandoned the sedan market. Every other automaker has been forced to either hybridize or reduce car size. SUVs and trucks are effectively the new sedan, as they have different efficiency requirements, so can support the mobile energy requirements of an early 21st century family. Most of the plug-in hybrids and all-el…

It's eye opening to consider 3-5 year ownership costs in light of what people buying a 3-5 year old used vehicle want.

The problem with cars is they undercut the used SUV market. Which increases depreciation on more profitable SUV's which effectively increases their price.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#13

Post by athenot » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:38 PM UTC

baggachipz wrote: post #10

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

> a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. Sorry, but no. One can be had in just a couple months at this point, and that lead time will dwindle quickly now that they've really ramped production.

That's an improvement from when I last checked. Though that's for the 310-mile model with premium interior, costing $49,000. That's the same price as a Lexus GS 350.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#14

Post by skykooler » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:40 PM UTC

baggachipz wrote: post #10

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

> a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. Sorry, but no. One can be had in just a couple months at this point, and that lead time will dwindle quickly now that they've really ramped production.

> a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country

Going off of this I would assume the parent poster isn't in the USA. In other countries, the Tesla Model 3 isn't expected to start deliveries until 2019.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#15

Post by startupfounder » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:41 PM UTC

Tesla isn't a car company, it's an energy company that is building the Model E on their energy platform. Reading their SEC 10-K[0] will show this.

Solar is 55% of all new installations in the USA and Tesla is the leader in solar installations with SolarCity. $/watt installed is only going down with scale.

Batteries are becoming the platform for transportation and Tesla owns 50% of the global manufacturing capacity. $/watt is also trending down with scale.

Charging stations will replace gas stations and Tesla owns a major percentage of the stock.

The question is over what timescale is Tesla over/undervalued? The genius is that there is always going to be friction between long and short term values. This shortsightedness is the weak link of Wall Street. But if it's overvalued then short the stock!

The Model E has already made Tesla an energy comany with a very successful product, "the Model 3 is selling more units in the U.S. than any comparably priced midsize sedan, including those offered by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi."[1]

I don't own a Tesla or Tesla stock.

[0] http://ir.tesla.com/static-files/0fbefe56-326c-412e-a33c-aa1... [1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-07-12/how-tesla...

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#16

Post by jeffreyrogers » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:42 PM UTC

baybal2 wrote: post #3

I'm surprised. Chinese EV makers have aced the "nothing special" EV sedan niche under $30k and are popping them out non-stop. I guess, a part of "Apple disease" of around mid-20xx. Teslas are so distinct from mainline cars under the bonnet, that they can't source much components on open market, big part of manufacturing equipment have to be custom made, and they can't outsource anything. Chinese makers on other hands…

They can't pass US (and I would imagine European) crash test requirements.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#17

Post by michaelt » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:42 PM UTC

baggachipz wrote: post #10

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

> a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. Sorry, but no. One can be had in just a couple months at this point, and that lead time will dwindle quickly now that they've really ramped production.

Perhaps I wasn't clear; what I mean to say is "barely shipping at all to my country" [1]

[1] http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/150839/new-tesla-model-3-pric...

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#18

Post by sorenjan » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:52 PM UTC

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

Jaguar i-Pace

Volkswagen e-Golf

Renault ZOE

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#19

Post by bjl » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:54 PM UTC

baggachipz wrote: post #10

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

> a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. Sorry, but no. One can be had in just a couple months at this point, and that lead time will dwindle quickly now that they've really ramped production.

Not if you want the $35K version, which was supposed to be available in mass quantities last year.

Re: Will the Model 3 make Tesla a real car company?

#20

Post by btian » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 2:57 PM UTC

michaelt wrote: post #7

Tesla is running out of cash at a time when competition is heating up—Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, and others plan to release dozens of electric car models. I wish competition would heat up. All I want is an all-electric EV with a 200+ mile range. You know what my options are? [1] A Tesla Model S or X, a Bolt EV/Ampera-e which isn't sold in my country [2], or a Tesla Model 3 which is barely shipping at all. I look forwa…

What's wrong with S and X? They're great cars.