Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

audiusanews.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 51 posts

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#11

Post by tomkarlo »

beat wrote: post #8

Now here's an interesting question, or maybe some interrelated questions. First, will Tesla be able to manufacture profitably in the sub-$50k range (competing with the Audi/BMW/MB low end), with a car that is range-comparable to the S? In other words, can they build a genuinely useful electric drivetrain for about the same price as an internal combustion drivetrain? Next, as they start spinning up long-term reliabili…

Or, how long until one of them buys Tesla and combines its expertise with their existing infrastructure for mass production?

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#12

Post by ChuckMcM »

tptacek wrote: post #10

They're right, of course, but I'm not sure this is a great marketing move, because it dignifies the metric Tesla has chosen as their strongest. The fact that Tesla can even mount an argument that they're in a horse race with Audi, let alone outselling them, is a gigantic coup for a car company that's just a few years old.

This was what I was thinking, which basically said this was a big mistake on Audi's part. Rather than instill doubt in me that Tesla is an untested company I came away feeling better about them as an actual competitor to the likes of Audi. Time will tell of course.

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#13

Post by schiffern »

byoung2 wrote: post #3

The fact that Audi had to write this says that they feel threatened. And while Tesla does only sell one model at a time, they are able to produce cheaper models and sell more of them. As for the question posed by USA Today: There are questions, too, about whether it can keep its order books full, or whether the number of people who crave electric cars is limited. With the new financing offer, a Tesla is within reach…

I love the false dichotomy in that USA Today quote.

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#14

Post by WhoIsSatoshi »

tomkarlo wrote: post #11
beat wrote: post #8

Now here's an interesting question, or maybe some interrelated questions. First, will Tesla be able to manufacture profitably in the sub-$50k range (competing with the Audi/BMW/MB low end), with a car that is range-comparable to the S? In other words, can they build a genuinely useful electric drivetrain for about the same price as an internal combustion drivetrain? Next, as they start spinning up long-term reliabili…

Or, how long until one of them buys Tesla and combines its expertise with their existing infrastructure for mass production?

Being acquired would definately be a hindrance with the goal of bringing an affordable EV to the masses. I don't think it's about the money from there on.

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#15

Post by revelation »

tomkarlo wrote: post #11
beat wrote: post #8

Now here's an interesting question, or maybe some interrelated questions. First, will Tesla be able to manufacture profitably in the sub-$50k range (competing with the Audi/BMW/MB low end), with a car that is range-comparable to the S? In other words, can they build a genuinely useful electric drivetrain for about the same price as an internal combustion drivetrain? Next, as they start spinning up long-term reliabili…

Or, how long until one of them buys Tesla and combines its expertise with their existing infrastructure for mass production?

The NUMMI factory is designed for an output of 300000 cars per year. And thats the number for a GM and Toyota venture producing very complex gasoline cars, not Tesla using robots to produce relatively simple electric cars.

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#16

Post by foobarqux »

jagermo wrote: post #9

Its interesting to see how they try to cover it up. Especially BMW has researched alternative fuels, mainly hydrogen, but stopped its test fleet in 2009 [0]. Only one super expensive image car, a BMW 7, remains [1]. Audi and VW also dabbled in alternative energies, but none of them really got into it. Hopefully, Tesla can breath some new live into this area. We live in the 21st century, I demand vehicles fueled by an…

> We live in the 21st century, I demand vehicles fueled by anything other than oil.

Why? (Of course there are many valid reasons, just want to get an idea of which ones people are interested in.)

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#17

Post by TwoBit »

smackfu wrote: post #7

The CNN headline is definitely misleading: “Tesla sales beating Mercedes, BMW and Audi.” No one would guess they are talking about "per model sales" vs "per manufacturer sales", since they are naming manufacturers. It's just linkbait. Tesla really is the new Apple!

I like Tesla, but another consideration is that this is a brand new model splash. The 2014 results numbers will be more telling, given that the newness will have worn off a little.

Re: Tesla sales 'misleading' says Audi blog post

#19

Post by notatoad »

smackfu wrote: post #7

The CNN headline is definitely misleading: “Tesla sales beating Mercedes, BMW and Audi.” No one would guess they are talking about "per model sales" vs "per manufacturer sales", since they are naming manufacturers. It's just linkbait. Tesla really is the new Apple!

"No one would guess"

really? because my first assumption was that they were comparing sales of Tesla's only model to sales of Mercedes, BMW, and Audi's equivalent models. that is, comparing the sales of one high-end luxury car with the sales of other high-end luxury cars. it seems blindingly obvious that the Model S isn't selling more units than Mercedes' entire range.

Post reply on HN