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Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

finance.yahoo.com

251–260 of 318 posts

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#252

> But a problem with a subcontractor, compounded with other issues, forced Tesla to start over in certain areas, delaying production. > “We had to rewrite all of the software from scratch,” Musk said, adding that they’d redone “about 20 to 30 man years of software in four weeks” for the battery module. Maybe I'm just overcautious, but I would prefer not to be anywhere in the vicinity of a high-discharge actively cool…

20years * 50weeks / 4weeks = 250

assuming a man year is 40h/week and those 4 weeks were a crunch of 80 hour weeks, then 125 people worked on the same piece of software, assuming no ramp up time.

Is this even possible?

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#253
post #247
post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah doing 30 man years of software in 4 weeks is nothing to brag about. It's like assuming putting 9 women together can output a baby in a single month.

So your opinion is parallelizing software development is impossible? Interesting.

The more people you put on a single project, the more communication costs - which grow with n! - start to dominate.

The solution to that is to structure the project into independent parts that can be done in parallel by smaller amount of people, thus vastly reducing communication waste. But whether or not you can divide your project in such a way is a question of its scope, and of design decisions you make.

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#254

> But a problem with a subcontractor, compounded with other issues, forced Tesla to start over in certain areas, delaying production. > “We had to rewrite all of the software from scratch,” Musk said, adding that they’d redone “about 20 to 30 man years of software in four weeks” for the battery module. Maybe I'm just overcautious, but I would prefer not to be anywhere in the vicinity of a high-discharge actively cool…

What on earth is in that control software since it take 20-30 man years to write?

I mean, charging profile based on input variables such as temperature, total capacity, current capacity, health, available power ect. And then for discharging.

The battery and it's controller ought to be a black box you can either feed power or request power from, and query for data. Either I'm missing something fundamental, or the SW stack is a mess.

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#255
post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think any of the upfront investment or capital expenditure is included in the 1.4 billion calculation. Thats purely operating loss.

The $1.4bn is $300mn cash flows used in operating activities + $1.1bn capex.

So, can we assume that if the production has to be multiplied by 10, the cash flow used for operating activities should also be multiplied by almost 10, giving expenses of way more than $1.4bn?

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#256

The great thing about corporate missions & goals is that they are written so broadly: "Our goal when we created Tesla a decade ago was the same as it is today: to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible. " ( https://www.tesla.com/blog/mission-tesla ). Thanks to Tesla - seriously(!! COULD not and WOULD not have happened without them)…

You jest, but knowing Musk, he'd consider that a win.

The point of Tesla under his lead was always to make transportation electric ASAP; not necessarily for Tesla to be the biggest player forever. I.e. Tesla is means to an end, not an end itself.

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#257
post #16

Not really all that suprising.

Especially not with other articles talking about lack of the right production mindset or process[0]. I'm a bit worried these days for Tesla cause these seem like problems stemming from ego of "doing it better through technology" and ignoring wisdom from the rest of the industry that actually works. When major leadership keeps leaving[1] it feels like it's more of an ego, expectations, and political problem than a tec…

I feel like they are trying to invent the wheel anew. Yes, electric cars have some differences, but everything besides the drive system has been a ton of times and there are a lot of companies and people who know how to get what you want.

Also I agree with you that it feels that they belive that they can do everything better than anybody else and thus try to do everything themselves.

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#259

There will be Tesla defenders right till the end.

They have earned that. There aren't many companies who care about anything other than making money.

I have a bridge to sell ...

So Tesla is good ("anything other than making money"), and Nissan with doing more good by selling more Leafs is not? If Nissan is good, which electic car producer is bad?

I would agree on SpaceX - though a cynic might say it's Musks way out of the earth catastrophe[1] - but with many more companies selling electric cars the argument falls flat for me.

Especially if one looks at all the allegations by employees - if they are employees at all or sub-contractors without rights. Either Tesla has bad press or there are much more than with other car companies.

[1] Because you can be sure you're not the one on the last ship out

Re: Tesla posts big loss, cuts production of Models X and S to catch up on Model 3

#260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about compared to the Bolt, though? The Bolt seems dramatically more competitive than the Leaf. 200hp, comparable range, and cheaper than the model 3. I think people getting fed up with the wait and switching to Bolts en-masse is a possible scenario. Imagine if Chevy made an ad targeting exactly that scenario.... (You can thank me later Chevy ad execs)

The Bolt is a sort of unsexy compact hatchback so I can see it being unappealing to some groups of people even though from all accounts it's a fantastic product that matches the Model 3 in quality. Tesla should be concerned if GM expands their market by taking their Bolt technology and rapidly expanding into vehicle lines that appeal to other groups, such as a Bolt crossover or sexy Bolt hot hatch. Personally the Bol…

Is the Zoe sold in the U.S.? The pricing seems similar and it doesn't look too bad.
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