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This is a perfect slice of Americana here. I can't find a number through Google but the number of Ford Hourly/Salaried employees has to be over 125,000. As a g

This is a perfect slice of Americana here. I can't find a number through Google but the number of Ford Hourly/Salaried employees has to be over 125,000. As a guess. Tesla has 30,000 hourly/salary employees. Despite being valued 'less' Ford has a huge economic impact for many peoples lives. This may decline, over time, but don't be surprised if Ford/GM/Chrysler combine forces for a huge battery factory of their own. Their ability to tap capital markets with lower interest rates than Tesla is a competitive advantage. They also move many more vehicles than Tesla and get better prices from suppliers, which is a competitive advantage. Tesla's gambit with batteries is either going to work or will offer a fantastic opportunity to pickup a battery factory at a good price. At the of the day, when all major automotive companies have EV vehicles, what's going to differentiate them? The accuracy of the self driving software? Entertainment options within the vehicle? Serious question.

tachyonbeam 10y ago
> don't be surprised if Ford/GM/Chrysler combine forces for a huge battery factory of their own. They could do that, but they haven't really woken up to the huge threat to their markets that electric cars are posing. They still believe that ICE cars are what people really want. Ford has just announced now that it will begin designing hybrid vehicles. They're a few years behind. If they decided now that they're going to fund their own gigafactory, it would only be ready in 4-5 years. Where do you think Tesla is going to be then? If things go as planned, in 4-5 years, Tesla could have sold 2+ million Model 3's, and be on its way to more new models. > when all major automotive companies have EV vehicles, what's going to differentiate them? The accuracy of the self driving software? Entertainment options within the vehicle? Serious question. - Better performance. The Model 3 isn't a model S, but you can be sure that it will kick the Leaf and Chevy Bolt in the balls. - Slicker looks - Brand appeal. Don't underestimate this. Think Apple. - A supercharger network that's already in place. Other vendors all have major catching up to do. Another thing to consider is, Tesla has a lot of expertise and an EV designed from the ground up to be electric. Other vendors can't just come up with that tomorrow. It takes time to design and refine a product. IMO, by the time Ford really wakes up, they will largely be fucked. Not just because of Tesla, but because all other vendors are already ahead.
vitiral 10y ago
As far as suppliers go, Tesla is tightly vertically integrated and is willing to build anything in house if it increases their quality or delivery date. This is their buisness strategy for beating companies like Ford, and with baby-hands Trump in the office killing international trade left and right, it looks like it might be a winning bet (free trade is required for cheap supply chains).
njharman 10y ago
Rather than build own factories. It would be smarter, and someone will do it, to buy batteries and self driving tech from someone else. Concentrate on their strengths of car design, brand, dealer networks. Rather than enter new and risky tech someone else has 10 year lead on you. Someone else like Tesla.

tachyonbeam 10y ago

> don't be surprised if Ford/GM/Chrysler combine forces for a huge battery factory of their own. They could do that, but they haven't really woken up to the huge threat to their markets that electric cars are posing. They still believe that ICE cars are what people really want. Ford has just announced now that it will begin designing hybrid vehicles. They're a few years behind. If they decided now that they're going to fund their own gigafactory, it would only be ready in 4-5 years. Where do you think Tesla is going to be then? If things go as planned, in 4-5 years, Tesla could have sold 2+ million Model 3's, and be on its way to more new models. > when all major automotive companies have EV vehicles, what's going to differentiate them? The accuracy of the self driving software? Entertainment options within the vehicle? Serious question. - Better performance. The Model 3 isn't a model S, but you can be sure that it will kick the Leaf and Chevy Bolt in the balls. - Slicker looks - Brand appeal. Don't underestimate this. Think Apple. - A supercharger network that's already in place. Other vendors all have major catching up to do. Another thing to consider is, Tesla has a lot of expertise and an EV designed from the ground up to be electric. Other vendors can't just come up with that tomorrow. It takes time to design and refine a product. IMO, by the time Ford really wakes up, they will largely be fucked. Not just because of Tesla, but because all other vendors are already ahead.

vitiral 10y ago

As far as suppliers go, Tesla is tightly vertically integrated and is willing to build anything in house if it increases their quality or delivery date. This is their buisness strategy for beating companies like Ford, and with baby-hands Trump in the office killing international trade left and right, it looks like it might be a winning bet (free trade is required for cheap supply chains).

njharman 10y ago

Rather than build own factories. It would be smarter, and someone will do it, to buy batteries and self driving tech from someone else. Concentrate on their strengths of car design, brand, dealer networks. Rather than enter new and risky tech someone else has 10 year lead on you. Someone else like Tesla.