TESLA will reveal the MODEL X today....

[Nuts&Volts]

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

And none of the other automotive companies have any loans to pay back? Tesla has paid every US gov't loan back on time and in full, and they never took any bail out money only loans. Can many other automotive companies say that? GM and Chrysler can't.

Tesla generates interest and showcases their technology with their own vehicles right now. This brings in venture capital and also corporate partnerships. Tesla's cash flow right now is from developing and selling their technologies to Toyota and Daimler. They spend this money on their own cars and repeat the cycle. Eventually they will have the scale and stabilization of design to reduce the large amount of overhead they currently operate under.

Once the Model S (~100% Tesla design) is in consumers and critics hands they will be established because they will then have the consumer's interest and money driving them to increase production and development. They should no longer need loans or venture capital to stay afloat

This is a plan of action/prediction is not necessarily how it works. So things can and do go wrong...ie Fisker at the moment

 

[REdiculous]

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 auto makers aren't making mass-market EVs is the thing. They can't*. Try sourcing 100,000kwh and then realize that's only enough to put 10kwh in 10k cars.

If you pay $500/kwh for built packs (good luck!) then that would be a $50,000,000 investment, just on the batteries. That's only $5000 per car, but 10kwh isn't gonna give good range either.

IMO, they should be reducing the pack sizes to something around 10kwh and they should be including a detachable genset. That's got to be the easiest/cheapest way to make a mass-market EV that would work in the USA....100% electric drive, extra range w/ genset.

* the Prius kind of counts since it's sold huge numbers but it's not 100% electric drive so I hesitate to call it an EV..it's a hybrid.

 

[rojitor]

The page is still,any news?

 

[grindz145]

...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 !

They can if they have cash. Most chip fabs take well over a decade to turn a profit. This is not a classic business school BS business, this is ACTUALLY doing something new.

 

[EBJ]

just watched it.... well, tried to at least.

Elon Musk seriously needs to take a course in public-speaking.
Or let someone else be the face of the company.
That was painful to watch.

 

[E-racer]

That's personal preference. I personally think Elon is a great speaker because he wings his speeches. They sound genuine not rehearsed. I second the statement about this being real business not business school stuff.

The battery argument is ridiculous... Tesla has already signed the largest battery contract in history with Panasonic. The 5 year battery deal was for 6000 cars the first year and 20,000 for the next 4 years plus the batteries for the Model X and the packs they sell to Daimler(already 30,000 packs). Don't tell me that it is not feasible to set up this kind of deal because its already been done.

 

[LegendLength]

Anyone seen a price mentioned for these yet?

 

[Hillhater]

approx $55k :wink:

 

[grindz145]

approx $55k :wink:

Consider that over 100k miles, a comparable car would cost approximately $20k in gas, $2k in oil and engine maintenance (conservatively!) , and that's assuming gas stays at 3.75 a gallon in that time period and 22mpg. That's versus $4k in electricity.

That makes this luxury vehicle, actually cost about $37 grand effectively if you consider the savings in fuel, and of course assuming you actually drive it. a comparable volvo Xc-60 (just a random similar car) cost 35k. A more comparable car on the level of quality would be a Porsche Cayenne, which is ~90k.

so in short, I'm still not sure what you're beef is?

 

[LegendLength]

I know that wasn't directed at me but personally I think it's an amazing price. An amazing price that would be double here in australia of course.

 

[grindz145]

I know that wasn't directed at me but personally I think it's an amazing price. An amazing price that would be double here in australia of course.

nah, hillhater has just been drinking too much haterade.

 

[Hillhater]

. A more comparable car on the level of quality would be a Porsche Cayenne,

so , when did you get to do a quality comparison of the Mod X ??

... I'm still not sure what you're beef is?

Beef ??... I'm more like a vegg'y on this...( I actually thought $55k was a low price !)
...but i still dont think Tesla will survive another decade ! :wink: