TESLA will reveal the MODEL X today....

[Doctorbass]

I am really curious to see what kind of model it look like?

I know the roadster and the model S

but never heard about the MODEL X !!


I am subscribed to their news and got an email about that:

http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=

I hope this a more afordable model ! wich could kick the but of the leaf or the volt or prius! for at a decent price!

Doc

[neptronix]

Sorry to burst your bubble DoctorBass, but it's a SUV

[BlackArrow]

Doc,

A SUV is perfect to carry your trike and your DH ebike here my friend good day!
Black Arrow

[rojitor]

Not released yet.... Let's wait.

[EBJ]

just spent an hour reading through the site...

on the model S they have "door handles that retract for aerodynamics".
followed by something like: "they thought about every centimeter for efficiency".

Then I noticed they don't have an option for "smoothie" wheels....
You'de think that if every centimeter was thought of, they would at least offer a more aerodynamic wheel.
But they apparently have "aerodynamic tires" .,.. whatever that means. lol

Seems strange to me.

[grindz145]

An SUV that Tesla produces, will not be the traditional paradigm. Tesla has been doing an absolutely fantastic job of marrying traditional wants with electric tech.

I frocking hate cars, and I'm still really excited to hear news about Tesla.

[kiqnkf]

1hr 7 mins away..... I can wait....

[EBJ]

im interested in how a "live unveiling" on a website works...

[EBJ]

also: I am guessing Tesla nixed the Roadster ? You can't seem to purchase it on their website any more.

[E-racer]

I cannot wait for the unveil either! As I understand it the roadster as we know it (Lotus EV conversion) is over. I've heard that Tesla plans to release a new version of the roadster that is fully built by Tesla. I imagine this will be released in 2013 (about a year from now).

As for the aero wheels they can be seen here: http://www.teslamotors.com/models/options

[Doctorbass]

Hmmm 8:00 PM PST


So what equivalent to 5 GMT ??

I thought it could be +3 hours equivalent here...

it's 23h11 here.. and still no "live stream"

Is my time conversion wrong?

[EBJ]

no go here as of 8:14 pm.

I'm sure there are plenty of people pulling their hair out right about now.
Not a very great first impression thus far.

[grindz145]

Yeah, I keep trying to load the page, but we're all pretty much DDosing the poor servers. I guess they got more interest than they planned for. Somebodys in trouble...

[E-racer]

Yea I would hate to be the IT guy right now. Rath of Elon Musk as soon as he steps off stage. I'm hoping they will have it available for replay tomorrow. Also here is a Video w/ Elon already hosted http://gigaom.com/cleantech/hands-on-video-with-teslas-electric-suv-the-model-x/

[grindz145]

Sweet E-racer, at least that was worth staying up late for. Even though, that video too played SUPER slow. +1 for cute hipster chick...

[E-racer]

^ amen.

[Hillhater]

nice looking vehicles, but strangely similar to the Audi A5 ( Model S) .. and the BMW X6 ( Model X) ?
I find it a little unsettling that for a company which has been established for nearly 10 years, that you cannot actually buy a car from them !!
..all that you can do is leave a deposit for a planned future production schedule !
I wonder who is their business strategist, and what their cash flow model looks like ?

[Doctorbass]

Thanks E-racer for that video..

Doc

[E-racer]

nice looking vehicles, but strangely similar to the Audi A5 ( Model S) .. and the BMW X6 ( Model X) ?
I find it a little unsettling that for a company which has been established for nearly 10 years, that you cannot actually buy a car from them !!
..all that you can do is leave a deposit for a planned future production schedule !
I wonder who is their business strategist, and what their cash flow model looks like ?

Tesla has only been under the authority of Elon Musk for the last 6 years. Their entire plant is up and running in Fremont, California. It includes a full stamping line with automated die changes, a fully automated unibody welding army, and autonomous painting. This line has produced over 150 cars for crash test and beta models. To date, they have met every single milestone they have set. There are 8,500+ reservation holders for the Model S. The cars will begin delivery before the end of this year. Impressive if you ask me. I would have thought the barrier of entry to the car market in the US was way to high for an upstart. The fact that Tesla has built up to the point they are today is outstanding! It takes most automakers over 5 years to produce one new car. Tesla has built an entire car company in this amount of time.

Furthermore Tesla has done all of this while making strategic partnerships with Toyota, Daimler, and Panasonic. In fact, they have sold over 30,000 battery packs to Diamler for A-class hybrids and Smart Electric Drives. This partnership, along with Roadster sales and Model S reservations showed some decent cashflow. You've got to think the entire time they were doing all of this they were also building and tooling a factory. Not to mention designing two cars to build in this factory. The fact that the burn rate could be controlled and this project actually reached completion is truly amazing.

[EBJ]

nice looking vehicles, but strangely similar to the Audi A5 ( Model S) .. and the BMW X6 ( Model X) ?
I find it a little unsettling that for a company which has been established for nearly 10 years, that you cannot actually buy a car from them !!
..all that you can do is leave a deposit for a planned future production schedule !
I wonder who is their business strategist, and what their cash flow model looks like ?

Tesla has only been under the authority of Elon Musk for the last 6 years. Their entire plant is up and running in Fremont, California. It includes a full stamping line with automated die changes, a fully automated unibody welding army, and autonomous painting. This line has produced over 150 cars for crash test and beta models. To date, they have met every single milestone they have set. There are 8,500+ reservation holders for the Model S. The cars will begin delivery before the end of this year. Impressive if you ask me. I would have thought the barrier of entry to the car market in the US was way to high for an upstart. The fact that Tesla has built up to the point they are today is outstanding! It takes most automakers over 5 years to produce one new car. Tesla has built an entire car company in this amount of time.

Furthermore Tesla has done all of this while making strategic partnerships with Toyota, Daimler, and Panasonic. In fact, they have sold over 30,000 battery packs to Diamler for A-class hybrids and Smart Electric Drives. This partnership, along with Roadster sales and Model S reservations showed some decent cashflow. You've got to think the entire time they were doing all of this they were also building and tooling a factory. Not to mention designing two cars to build in this factory. The fact that the burn rate could be controlled and this project actually reached completion is truly amazing.

well put, lets also not forget they have a half-billion to pay back.
They sure as hell better not go the Solyndra route.

[liveforphysics]

I have found that gutted vans make way way more sense for hauling motorcycles inside than pickups.

If the roof is high enough, I may get one.

[Hillhater]

Tesla has only been under the authority of Elon Musk for the last 6 years. Their entire plant is up and running in Fremont, California. It includes a full stamping line with automated die changes, a fully automated unibody welding army, and autonomous painting. This line has produced over 150 cars for crash test and beta models. To date, they have met every single milestone they have set. There are 8,500+ reservation holders for the Model S. The cars will begin delivery before the end of this year. Impressive if you ask me. I would have thought the barrier of entry to the car market in the US was way to high for an upstart. The fact that Tesla has built up to the point they are today is outstanding! It takes most automakers over 5 years to produce one new car. Tesla has built an entire car company in this amount of time.

Furthermore Tesla has done all of this while making strategic partnerships with Toyota, Daimler, and Panasonic. In fact, they have sold over 30,000 battery packs to Diamler for A-class hybrids and Smart Electric Drives. This partnership, along with Roadster sales and Model S reservations showed some decent cashflow. You've got to think the entire time they were doing all of this they were also building and tooling a factory. Not to mention designing two cars to build in this factory. The fact that the burn rate could be controlled and this project actually reached completion is truly amazing.

Mostly very true...and very costly...but i dont see how sales of 2500 roadsters ( reportedly at a loss on each one ? ) gives a "decent cash flow" ? .
How many vehicles will they have to SELL (not just show) before they start to break even ? ... A LOT more than 8500 for sure.
And the company start up was 2004, with much of the design work already done previously.
Bigger projects have been started up much faster...and failed spectacularly also !
.... I cant help thinking of DeLorean. !

[grindz145]

A company like this is a huge long-term investment. If you think you can turn a profit in a long-term EV business in under a decade, you're probably just a box shuffler, and will make no long-term value.

[TylerDurden]

I would do the same as Tesla: enter the market in the prestige-class, where the margins are higher. In this economic climate, they can't possibly make it on volume.

Sure, we all know EVs can be made affordable for the masses, but the masses aren't ready for them (in the USA).... yet.

The ES betting-pool should be on what price gasoline needs to be and what price the car will be, to tip the scales .

(I love gull-doors, but sliders like on a Mazda5 are prolly the ticket.)

[Hillhater]

...If you think you can turn a profit in a long-term EV business in under a decade, you're probably just a box shuffler, and will make no long-term value.

No independent business can survive a decade without turning a profit !