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At this point, I disagree that it's because of the incentives. In fact, at the Model S price point, it probably had nothing to do with incentives, which are (if
by rconti 9y ago
At this point, I disagree that it's because of the incentives. In fact, at the Model S price point, it probably had nothing to do with incentives, which are (if you're 'lucky', 10% at $100k pricepoint).
First to market, yes. And first to make it 'cool'. I have a hard time thinking BMW bolting batteries into a car will take away from the novelty factor of the Model S. It's not just about propulsion, it's everything -- the styling, the electronics, the early adopter thing, street cred, etc.
It's "do you want to buy one of half a dozen old school cars, or this new COOL thing?"
How many Prius owners have seen a Honda hybrid of some sort and been surprised that Honda makes a hybrid?
- dragonwriter 9y ago> How many Prius owners have seen a Honda hybrid of some sort and been surprised that Honda makes a hybrid? Honda had the first mass-produced US-market hybrid, and was the first to make it cool. OTOH, the first-gen Prius was more broadly useful than the super-small first-gen Insight that preceded it to the US market. Not sure how this is supposed to map to Tesla, are you trying to say Tesla is like Toyota or Honda in this comparison?
- rconti 9y agoThe Tesla is like the Toyota. It's the car everyone knows is an electric. Hybrids from non-Toyota makers had to play a lot of catchup (and, frankly, even non-Prius Toyota Hybrids) to have the same appeal that the Prius did. In the same way, I don't see electric cars from BMW or Audi or Mercedes competing with Tesla on day 1. It's just JUST the powertrain that's drawing people to the Tesla. Some of the pro-Tesla draws are down to vanity or image, and others are more tangible.
- Vik1ng 9y agoIn Norway it is not 10% but a 100%