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Tesla has been very fast to release their self-driving capabilities (navigate on autopilot is pretty spooky), but in general the VW/Audi group shouldn't be too

Tesla has been very fast to release their self-driving capabilities (navigate on autopilot is pretty spooky), but in general the VW/Audi group shouldn't be too far off. The e-tron that was just released isn't as efficient as Tesla's because it's a traditional SUV design-wise, but a lot of the electric tech is there. On highways they even have L3 self-driving in traffic jams, in that the driver is no longer required to constantly pay attention, just being able to take over when the car indicates is enough. Looking at the Geneva Motor Show, almost every manufacturer is really moving towards EVs (Toyota being one of the slower ones to make this move). Tesla is just going to have to deal with actual competitors very soon.

deelowe 8y ago
Doesn't the new x7 have self driving capabilities?
rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago
We've heard this since 2009! Nothing has changed expect that Tesla's lead is even greater. Other auto-manufacturer are all talk – except VW, these days (surprisingly). If you think one company is finally getting serious about actually making EV "en masse", look for their plans to build battery gigafactories: if there's none, then they will not have the production capacity to make the EV they're talking about (but they'll certainly green-wash consumers with big time ads)... unless we start to hear about gargantuan plans from LG, Samsung and the like. But we're still waiting.
- Ambroos 8y ago
  VW has a massive battery order spread between Samsung, LG and CATL, but yeah, I agree Tesla will have a solid lead on battery production for a while. I wonder if Tesla/Panasonic will at some point start selling mass produced batteries to the traditional car manufacturers. Once EVs become mainstream, consumers will start expecting choice.
  - rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago
    > VW has a massive battery order spread between Samsung, LG and CATL, but yeah, I agree Tesla will have a solid lead on battery production for a while. Tesla have much bigger contracts with Panasonic, and already supplies cells from Samsung and LG for stationary storage and is inquiring CATL as the main supplier of the Shanghai factory. Since Tesla is crushing them in EV volume and should continue to do so for years to come, I don't see how VW can compete in cost and even in tech. >I wonder if Tesla/Panasonic will at some point start selling mass produced batteries to the traditional car manufacturers. Once EVs become mainstream, consumers will start expecting choice. I doubt it, at least until Tesla is demand-constrained. By then, they'll keep all the batteries for their car and energy storage business and let the competition fight for the leftover.

deelowe 8y ago

Doesn't the new x7 have self driving capabilities?

rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago

We've heard this since 2009! Nothing has changed expect that Tesla's lead is even greater. Other auto-manufacturer are all talk – except VW, these days (surprisingly). If you think one company is finally getting serious about actually making EV "en masse", look for their plans to build battery gigafactories: if there's none, then they will not have the production capacity to make the EV they're talking about (but they'll certainly green-wash consumers with big time ads)... unless we start to hear about gargantuan plans from LG, Samsung and the like. But we're still waiting.

Ambroos 8y ago
VW has a massive battery order spread between Samsung, LG and CATL, but yeah, I agree Tesla will have a solid lead on battery production for a while. I wonder if Tesla/Panasonic will at some point start selling mass produced batteries to the traditional car manufacturers. Once EVs become mainstream, consumers will start expecting choice.
- rcMgD2BwE72F 8y ago
  > VW has a massive battery order spread between Samsung, LG and CATL, but yeah, I agree Tesla will have a solid lead on battery production for a while. Tesla have much bigger contracts with Panasonic, and already supplies cells from Samsung and LG for stationary storage and is inquiring CATL as the main supplier of the Shanghai factory. Since Tesla is crushing them in EV volume and should continue to do so for years to come, I don't see how VW can compete in cost and even in tech. >I wonder if Tesla/Panasonic will at some point start selling mass produced batteries to the traditional car manufacturers. Once EVs become mainstream, consumers will start expecting choice. I doubt it, at least until Tesla is demand-constrained. By then, they'll keep all the batteries for their car and energy storage business and let the competition fight for the leftover.