4 ms·

Since 2013 (when I started following Tesla stock), I have seen daily or weekly headlines about Tesla coming to an end.

myself248 8y ago
And in the long term, one of them is bound to be right. Just like people, the vast majority of companies that ever lived are also dead now. That doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate and support and enjoy them while they're here. Tesla's stated goal is to advance the state of transportation, and they can do that whether they're in it for the long term, or just shake things up for a while and force everyone else to catch up. Sort of like Tucker or Studebaker, IMHO. I'm too young to have owned a Tucker when they were new, but I'd be proud to have done so. Whatever happens to Tesla, I want to be able to say I was part of it.
- SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
  > Whatever happens to Tesla, I want to be able to say I was part of it. Good luck - and I sincerely mean this. I cancelled my Model 3 preorder just this morning after waiting for over 3 years. Still no ETA for them here in the UK. Meanwhile the rest of the global automotive market has caught up. I genuinely hope that my £1000 interest free loan was at least some use to the company in that time. > Tesla's stated goal is to advance the state of transportation There's no denying that they've achieved this and given the other manufacturers a much-needed kick up the ass in the process. Practical, desirable electric vehicles are here and they're here to stay, and pretty much entirely thanks to Tesla. A friend has had a few Model S's since they were released and they're incredible cars, just unfortunately too expensive for me to justify at the moment. I'm still backing Tesla in spirit but there's no denying that they have a lot of issues and that their USP is rapidly disappearing as other manufacturers bring practical electric cars onto the market. Unfortunately mass producing vehicles is a hard problem that Tesla still seem to be working out.
  - jsight 8y ago
    > Still no ETA for them here in the UK. I'm not sure what you mean by that. AFAIK, the schedule was always for the second half of the year, and they've been reaffirming June for first deliveries. They are clearly struggling with European deliveries, but the factory has been at a steady run rate of ~250k model 3s per year for the last 9 months or so. Add in the additional 50-100k run rate of S/X to that, and the plant is at least 350k per year. For perspective, BMW's largest plant produces ~440k/year.
navigatesol 8y ago
>Since 2013 (when I started following Tesla stock), I have seen daily or weekly headlines about Tesla coming to an end. I don't understand this argument. Not saying Tesla is Theranos, but Theranos ran on hope and dreams for 10 years. These things take time to play out.
- lazyjones 8y ago
  > I don't understand this argument. Not saying Tesla is Theranos, but Theranos ran on hope and dreams for 10 years. Amazon ran on losses for many years and it played out in the end. By choosing what company you compare Tesla to, you already choose a particular narrative. It's worthless as an argument and if you have a reason for your belief, it's more useful to discuss that rather than arbitrary comparisons.
  - navigatesol 8y ago
    >Amazon ran on losses for many years and it played out in the end. It's comments like this that demonstrate just how unprepared some people are going to be if Tesla fails. Brush up on your finance. If you don't see the parallels between the companies, not sure what to tell you. But I'll mark this comment, because assuredly you'll say, "where were the signs!". Just like some other big name posters about Theranos.
  - aNoob7000 8y ago
    Amazon got lucky with AWS. What does Tesla have?
    - DarmokJalad1701 8y ago
      * Best in class battery technology (cost and power density), * Highest efficiency motors in terms of cost, weight and HP (compared to BMW i3 and Chevy Bolt) * A massive charging infrastructure * 1 billion+ miles of driving data from its ADAS system to get it closer to FSD. * A software platform that enables OTA updates that improves performance/features of the car that is unparalleled in the market right now.
  - 8y ago
leesec 8y ago
The "Tesla Death Watch" started earlier than that. I think 2009.

And in the long term, one of them is bound to be right. Just like people, the vast majority of companies that ever lived are also dead now. That doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate and support and enjoy them while they're here. Tesla's stated goal is to advance the state of transportation, and they can do that whether they're in it for the long term, or just shake things up for a while and force everyone else to catch up. Sort of like Tucker or Studebaker, IMHO. I'm too young to have owned a Tucker when they were new, but I'd be proud to have done so. Whatever happens to Tesla, I want to be able to say I was part of it.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
> Whatever happens to Tesla, I want to be able to say I was part of it. Good luck - and I sincerely mean this. I cancelled my Model 3 preorder just this morning after waiting for over 3 years. Still no ETA for them here in the UK. Meanwhile the rest of the global automotive market has caught up. I genuinely hope that my £1000 interest free loan was at least some use to the company in that time. > Tesla's stated goal is to advance the state of transportation There's no denying that they've achieved this and given the other manufacturers a much-needed kick up the ass in the process. Practical, desirable electric vehicles are here and they're here to stay, and pretty much entirely thanks to Tesla. A friend has had a few Model S's since they were released and they're incredible cars, just unfortunately too expensive for me to justify at the moment. I'm still backing Tesla in spirit but there's no denying that they have a lot of issues and that their USP is rapidly disappearing as other manufacturers bring practical electric cars onto the market. Unfortunately mass producing vehicles is a hard problem that Tesla still seem to be working out.
- jsight 8y ago
  > Still no ETA for them here in the UK. I'm not sure what you mean by that. AFAIK, the schedule was always for the second half of the year, and they've been reaffirming June for first deliveries. They are clearly struggling with European deliveries, but the factory has been at a steady run rate of ~250k model 3s per year for the last 9 months or so. Add in the additional 50-100k run rate of S/X to that, and the plant is at least 350k per year. For perspective, BMW's largest plant produces ~440k/year.

navigatesol 8y ago

>Since 2013 (when I started following Tesla stock), I have seen daily or weekly headlines about Tesla coming to an end. I don't understand this argument. Not saying Tesla is Theranos, but Theranos ran on hope and dreams for 10 years. These things take time to play out.

lazyjones 8y ago
> I don't understand this argument. Not saying Tesla is Theranos, but Theranos ran on hope and dreams for 10 years. Amazon ran on losses for many years and it played out in the end. By choosing what company you compare Tesla to, you already choose a particular narrative. It's worthless as an argument and if you have a reason for your belief, it's more useful to discuss that rather than arbitrary comparisons.
- navigatesol 8y ago
  >Amazon ran on losses for many years and it played out in the end. It's comments like this that demonstrate just how unprepared some people are going to be if Tesla fails. Brush up on your finance. If you don't see the parallels between the companies, not sure what to tell you. But I'll mark this comment, because assuredly you'll say, "where were the signs!". Just like some other big name posters about Theranos.
- aNoob7000 8y ago
  Amazon got lucky with AWS. What does Tesla have?
  - DarmokJalad1701 8y ago
    * Best in class battery technology (cost and power density), * Highest efficiency motors in terms of cost, weight and HP (compared to BMW i3 and Chevy Bolt) * A massive charging infrastructure * 1 billion+ miles of driving data from its ADAS system to get it closer to FSD. * A software platform that enables OTA updates that improves performance/features of the car that is unparalleled in the market right now.
- 8y ago

leesec 8y ago

The "Tesla Death Watch" started earlier than that. I think 2009.