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Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

reuters.com

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Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#201

Post by eanzenberg »

Analemma_ wrote: post #133
maxerickson wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

humanity is getting out of the deal, they already got the Model S and X, it's soon going to get the 3 Let's not be too breathless when we describe the cars that a few hundred thousand of the wealthiest people on the planet have purchased.

... at a considerable cost to taxpayers in what was essentially a large upward wealth transfer. It might be worth it in the end, but call a spade a spade.

In the US gas is subsidized to hell. It's not even close compared to EV credits paid out.

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#203

Post by gruturo »

azernik wrote: post #160
usaphp wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "I also happen to know a lot of the people who bought a heavily discounted Tesla in Q3 feel kind of burned that right at the beginning of Q4 Tesla announced the new Autopilot hardware (that isn't retrotfitable on old vehicles). " Wow I guess this is the best proof of how Tesla is really changing the way auto owners think, this is something that wasn't unthinkable before Tesla and their over the air updates. Can you…

It's actually a very Apple strategy - discount the old iPhone, the fans realize a new one is in the pipeline but nothing's announced, and then the new one is finally released.

The iPhone is on an extremely predictable release cycle. Especially fans would absolutely know that one comes around the last week of September every year. This scheduling got changed only _once_ (moved from June to September), and this was not kept secret.

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#204

Post by gambiting »

usaphp wrote: post #34
mitchellh wrote: post #23

Really great news! But something that shouldn't be overlooked is the discounts they gave in Q3 to push deliveries up. First, those that know me know that I am a Tesla FANATIC. My girlfriend once challenged me to not talk about Tesla (motors, energy, something) for a 24 hour period. I dunno if I've ever done that honestly. I'm also an owner (no surprise given my fanaticism, lucky to be able to afford one). And I also…

> "I also happen to know a lot of the people who bought a heavily discounted Tesla in Q3 feel kind of burned that right at the beginning of Q4 Tesla announced the new Autopilot hardware (that isn't retrotfitable on old vehicles). " Wow I guess this is the best proof of how Tesla is really changing the way auto owners think, this is something that wasn't unthinkable before Tesla and their over the air updates. Can you…

I am actually complaining quite a lot that my 2016 Mercedes does not have(and probably won't have the option to retrofit) Android Auto compatibility, while the 2017 model has it. It's literally the same head unit, with a firmware upgrade - it pisses me off.

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#205

Post by [deleted] »

gniv wrote: post #146
_ea1k wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is going to take about 3 years for competition to reach where Tesla is right now with regards to range and charging networks.

Charging networks maybe, but range no. The Chevy Bolt that will start selling in a couple of months has 238 miles range. GM doesn't have the superchargers, but they can afford to price these cars with zero profit for a while, if they want to undercut Tesla.

[deleted]

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#206

Post by tomp »

rtpg wrote: post #198
patrickk wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Maybe because everyone wants his companies to succeed... Surely the only ones who don't want dramatically cheaper space launches, cheaper, widely available solar PV installations and attractive, affordable electric vehicles are deeply entrenched incumbents whose continued profitability involves polluting the planet, or those who really hate the environment for whatever reason. There are valid criticisms you can lev…

Considering how most of his current businesses exist thanks to gov't incentives/tax advantages in the domains, there are legitimate criticisms to the way in which his businesses are run. Though I think it's proof the system works! Offer tax incentives for electric cars, get electric cars. Though it seems like Musk isn't making a super sustainable business just yet.... Solar City is arguably "good solar", but that com…

> his current businesses exist thanks to gov't incentives/tax advantages in the domains

What do you mean? It's not like the oil/petrol car/traditional space launch industries exist without government subsidies... This is basically just levelling the playing field (and ensuring a better future)!

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#207

Post by codeulike »

shasheene wrote: post #19

The Economist recently did a good article on the financing of Elon Musk's companies that flew under the radar of Hacker News that probably warranted further discussion [1] [2]. (Though the author of that piece completely misses the relative importance of each company to Musk, suggesting "he could try to sell [...] SpaceX, through gritted teeth, to a defence firm") It's unfortunate there's a bit of a reality distortio…

that flew under the radar of Hacker News

It was on the hn front page for at least 24 hours

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12773035

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#208

Post by codeulike »

TylerE wrote: post #144
RubberSpoon wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare with Toyota's head start of approximately 66 years for some perspective.

They're literally building them in an old Toyota plant, that at peak output was 426,000 vehicles annually.

When it was full of Toyota equipment and staff.

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#209

Post by q-base »

tschellenbach wrote: post #85

I've been reading the book about Elon Musk, great read. This is all the more impressive considering all the stories of times they almost went bankrupt.

Would like to know which one. Would like to read a book about him but just not sure whether any of the currents are any good or just put out there to ride on his current fame.

Re: Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

#210

Post by usrusr »

Anasufovic wrote: post #88
tw04 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure. It's one thing to be told "Hey, there's a new model right around the corner. But we have this guy on a steep discount to clear out inventory." vs. "Hey, we have this great sale going on. What, new model? Naww, we are just having a sale!!" The incumbent MFG's literally have "new inventory" sales on their last-years model to clear out inventory. They let you know well in advance that a new car is coming with…

I think we know which path leads to better sales.

Both, depending on where in the company lifecycle the sales happen.

The upstart, by virtue of simply not yet having that many potential repeat customers around, is targeting first time buyers. The goodwill created by having as little obsolescence as possible far outweighs the extra sales they might get through it. This tradeoff changes significantly once a company is established and the number of potential repeat customers is high. Now it's always a balance between repeat sale likelihood and repeat sale cycle duration.

Different forms of obsolescence have different effects in different markets. E.g. unlike smartphone makers, car manufacturers tread very carefully when it comes to longevity. Red book value and all that. So what do they do? They have perfected the generational model update cycle. New generation cars are literally designed to make the predecessor look old, because that is the most acceptable repeat sale driver. Tesla just isn't there yet.

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