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

Tesla reports first quarterly profit in more than three years

reuters.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 290 posts

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

#211

Post by sambe »

jacquesm wrote: post #98
vvanders wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We achieved record production levels in Q3, rising to 25,185 vehicles for an increase of 37% from Q2 and an increase of 92% from Q3 last year. An almost 100% production increase Year over Year, they said it couldn't be done and yet here we are.

Compare with Toyota's annual production of approximately 9 million vehicles for some perspective.

Why does this comparison keep coming up? Relative growth and absolute count is not the same. Neither is the company in the same phase. Neither is there demand for 9MM Teslas per year.

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

#212

Post by a_plastic_bag »

komali2 wrote: post #104
ams6110 wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have anything against Musk. I simply don't care much one way or the other because the things he's working on will never affect me. Electric cars are not something I'm interested in owning at the price Tesla is asking. Or even half what Tesla is asking. Utility electricity works fine for me, is a small fraction of my monthly budget, and is reliable. I.e. something I never really worry about. Payments for and m…

With all due respect, that is the standpoint of a cynic or perhaps nihilist. Which is totally fine, people should have the right to not care about stuff without being judged for it. However, if everyone was a perfect nihilist, you wouldn't have cheap old cars to drive because nobody would have made cars. You wouldn't have a cell phone, and especially a data connection, if not for the space program. And so on. So whil…

> You wouldn't have a cell phone, and especially a data connection, if not for the space program. And so on.

Given enough time, it would've been invented regardless. You are right that we probably would be further behind technologically if it wasn't for the space race though.

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

#213

Post by annnnd »

ams6110 wrote: post #96
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…

I don't have anything against Musk. I simply don't care much one way or the other because the things he's working on will never affect me. Electric cars are not something I'm interested in owning at the price Tesla is asking. Or even half what Tesla is asking. Utility electricity works fine for me, is a small fraction of my monthly budget, and is reliable. I.e. something I never really worry about. Payments for and m…

Still - the change that he is pushing will affect you. Like it or not he has become a large player in car industry, which by itself affects many economies on the world. Not to mention what looks like a slow, deliberate and imho unfortunate transition from owning a car to being driven somewhere. Do you think you will be allowed to drive your own car in 30 years time? No more than the horses are allowed on streets nowadays. You can take them for a stroll, but you go on highways with them.

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

#214

Post by forgetsusername »

will_hughes wrote: post #178
tw04 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but I can imagine a BMW owner complaining that the 2016 model came out 3 weeks after he bought his 2015, with no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press. And that the 2016 model came with a bunch of new features he really wanted and would've been willing to pay for.

> no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press Tesla has done this for a long while. Newer larger battery pack options, newer interior and tech package options, and completely new performance and configuration options (insane, dual motor, and autopilot 1.0 all hit at once) While there wern't announcements ahead of time what was coming, there were often advance notice that there was an announcement coming, and even…

Canon sure doesn't tell anyone when their new models are coming out

Big difference between buying a camera and buying a car.

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

#215

Post by forgetsusername »

usaphp wrote: post #80
tw04 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but I can imagine a BMW owner complaining that the 2016 model came out 3 weeks after he bought his 2015, with no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press. And that the 2016 model came with a bunch of new features he really wanted and would've been willing to pay for.

I doubt any auto dealer's sales person will gamble to let a customer know that he should not buy the car right now and he should wait for later...they have bonuses to collect, and the faster they move old inventory the better bonuses are.

This might be true if you think that all salespeople are scumbags and that the Internet doesn't exist as a source of information on future models.

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

#216

Post by vsl »

will_hughes wrote: post #178
tw04 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but I can imagine a BMW owner complaining that the 2016 model came out 3 weeks after he bought his 2015, with no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press. And that the 2016 model came with a bunch of new features he really wanted and would've been willing to pay for.

> no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press Tesla has done this for a long while. Newer larger battery pack options, newer interior and tech package options, and completely new performance and configuration options (insane, dual motor, and autopilot 1.0 all hit at once) While there wern't announcements ahead of time what was coming, there were often advance notice that there was an announcement coming, and even…

Yes, they keep doing it, and if you pay close attention to Tesla, you’re aware of it. You’re also aware of rumors of AP2 coming. If you don’t follow Tesla news, you’re in for a surprise.

Regardless, I think it’s a fair critique: buyer’s remorse is a real thing with Tesla. It’s one thing to buy a $3000 computer from Apple and have it replaced with a much better one the next week, it’s another to buy a $100K car and have a major improvement two weeks later.

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

#217

Post by forgetsusername »

samfisher83 wrote: post #89
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…

If that was the case why did their gross margins also go up?

ZEV credits count as automotive revenue.

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

#218

Post by vsl »

taneq wrote: post #129
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…

> 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." Is this not what "hey this 1-2 year old model is on super duper sale right now, it's really cheap, you should buy it!" means? Is a steep discount on older stock not always code for "better shift these before new model comes out"? You see Apple fanboys fall for this one every…

“Fanboys” don’t, they’re well aware a new iPhone is coming in September. And no, Apple doesn’t lower old iPhone prices until after the new is on sale.

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

#219

Post by rtpg »

tomp wrote: post #206
rtpg wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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)!

sure, like I said I like the system.

Just that some people out there innovate without taking subsidies, and some people would find that to be a "purer" form of success.

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

#220

Post by kakarot »

vsl wrote: post #216
will_hughes wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press Tesla has done this for a long while. Newer larger battery pack options, newer interior and tech package options, and completely new performance and configuration options (insane, dual motor, and autopilot 1.0 all hit at once) While there wern't announcements ahead of time what was coming, there were often advance notice that there was an announcement coming, and even…

Yes, they keep doing it, and if you pay close attention to Tesla, you’re aware of it. You’re also aware of rumors of AP2 coming. If you don’t follow Tesla news, you’re in for a surprise. Regardless, I think it’s a fair critique: buyer’s remorse is a real thing with Tesla. It’s one thing to buy a $3000 computer from Apple and have it replaced with a much better one the next week, it’s another to buy a $100K car and ha…

At the end of the day however, it is not Tesla's responsibility nor in their best interest to educate their customers to make intelligent purchasing decisions.

If you want change in this regard, it's not going to come from Tesla.

Post reply on HN