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Tesla's Source of Cash Has Finally Been Revealed

16 points by PretzelFisch 7y ago

umeshunni 7y ago
The entire article seems to be theory with a clickbait headline.
- bdcravens 7y ago
  According to the article, the purchasing of credits isn't a theory. There seem to be plenty of factual statements. "General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV disclosed to the state of Delaware earlier this year that they reached agreements to buy federal greenhouse gas credits from Tesla. While the filings are light on detail, they haven’t been reported on previously. They also represent the first acknowledgments from carmakers that they’re turning to Tesla for help to comply with intensifying U.S. environmental regulations." "GM’s agreement to buy greenhouse gas credits was dated Feb. 25 and reported to Delaware the following day. Pat Morrissey, a GM spokesman, said the company is buying the credits as insurance against “future regulatory uncertainties.”" "Tesla has generated almost $2 billion in revenue from selling regulatory credits since 2010. " "During a call with prospective investors in Tesla’s offerings of new equity and convertible bonds earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn said credit sales will be a more meaningful part of Tesla’s business in the coming years."
brianwawok 7y ago
So every Tesla you buy (that helps the environment), offsets a giant 12 MPG truck driven to get grocery's (and hurting the environment)? I wonder how the environmental buyers of Tesla would feel about that...
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  Model S owner here. I’m OK with it. Those are going to end up as stranded assets anyway (remember when people set their SUVs on fire when gas was >$4/gallon?). It also helps keep Tesla in business. Maybe the blame should be on poor public policy? You wouldn’t sit in the garage with a running internal combustion vehicle, so why do we continue to allow them to be sold? Disclaimer: I’m currently short the US auto industry (except Tesla) as well as the US economy as a whole.
  - bdcravens 7y ago
    > I’m currently short the US auto industry (except Tesla) Do you anticipate a future where Tesla succeeds but the economy doesn't? Right now Tesla's solvency is a product of SpaceX's success, and government subsidies (credits for buyers - remember how Tesla markets their prices - and credits they can sell). The average new car price is about $35,000, which means for every BMW someone's buying a low-end Corolla, and I don't see them succeeding long-term on sales if they can't start building $20,000 cars.
    - toomuchtodo 7y ago
      I expect Musk to have SpaceX acquire Tesla with StarLink revenue if Tesla nears insolvency. SpaceX being private makes this easier than him taking Tesla private directly (420 funding secured aside). Kinda looking forward to a “Musk Industries” conglomerate. Legacy automakers lack creative financing without government bailout intervention. Edit: I can only imagine what is capable with the combined manufacturing and R&D capabilities of Tesla and SpaceX.
      - reitzensteinm 7y ago
        What kind of time frame are you putting on this? Starlink needs to ramp up, and if Tesla is going to die, it's going to be sooner rather than later.
        toomuchtodo 7y ago
        Tesla is collecting at least $2 billion in zero emissions credits from GM and Fiat Chrysler over the next two years. China is willing to lend cheap money to them to fund Gigafactory 3. I’m not worried. I expect StarLink serving North American users in 12-18 months, with all sats flown on flight proven boosters already paid off by paying launch customers.
        reitzensteinm 7y ago
        OK, thank you.
- tomatotomato37 7y ago
  On the other hand, every SUV and truck bought for mall-crawling subsidizes the technology we need for a renewable energy future. These things aren't just a one way street.
- DeonPenny 7y ago
  Sounds amazing. If car companies will keep selling ICE cars that money should be used to subsidize companies that are trying.

16 points by PretzelFisch 7y ago

umeshunni 7y ago

The entire article seems to be theory with a clickbait headline.

bdcravens 7y ago
According to the article, the purchasing of credits isn't a theory. There seem to be plenty of factual statements. "General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV disclosed to the state of Delaware earlier this year that they reached agreements to buy federal greenhouse gas credits from Tesla. While the filings are light on detail, they haven’t been reported on previously. They also represent the first acknowledgments from carmakers that they’re turning to Tesla for help to comply with intensifying U.S. environmental regulations." "GM’s agreement to buy greenhouse gas credits was dated Feb. 25 and reported to Delaware the following day. Pat Morrissey, a GM spokesman, said the company is buying the credits as insurance against “future regulatory uncertainties.”" "Tesla has generated almost $2 billion in revenue from selling regulatory credits since 2010. " "During a call with prospective investors in Tesla’s offerings of new equity and convertible bonds earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn said credit sales will be a more meaningful part of Tesla’s business in the coming years."

brianwawok 7y ago

So every Tesla you buy (that helps the environment), offsets a giant 12 MPG truck driven to get grocery's (and hurting the environment)? I wonder how the environmental buyers of Tesla would feel about that...

toomuchtodo 7y ago
Model S owner here. I’m OK with it. Those are going to end up as stranded assets anyway (remember when people set their SUVs on fire when gas was >$4/gallon?). It also helps keep Tesla in business. Maybe the blame should be on poor public policy? You wouldn’t sit in the garage with a running internal combustion vehicle, so why do we continue to allow them to be sold? Disclaimer: I’m currently short the US auto industry (except Tesla) as well as the US economy as a whole.
- bdcravens 7y ago
  > I’m currently short the US auto industry (except Tesla) Do you anticipate a future where Tesla succeeds but the economy doesn't? Right now Tesla's solvency is a product of SpaceX's success, and government subsidies (credits for buyers - remember how Tesla markets their prices - and credits they can sell). The average new car price is about $35,000, which means for every BMW someone's buying a low-end Corolla, and I don't see them succeeding long-term on sales if they can't start building $20,000 cars.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    I expect Musk to have SpaceX acquire Tesla with StarLink revenue if Tesla nears insolvency. SpaceX being private makes this easier than him taking Tesla private directly (420 funding secured aside). Kinda looking forward to a “Musk Industries” conglomerate. Legacy automakers lack creative financing without government bailout intervention. Edit: I can only imagine what is capable with the combined manufacturing and R&D capabilities of Tesla and SpaceX.
    - reitzensteinm 7y ago
      What kind of time frame are you putting on this? Starlink needs to ramp up, and if Tesla is going to die, it's going to be sooner rather than later.
      - toomuchtodo 7y ago
        Tesla is collecting at least $2 billion in zero emissions credits from GM and Fiat Chrysler over the next two years. China is willing to lend cheap money to them to fund Gigafactory 3. I’m not worried. I expect StarLink serving North American users in 12-18 months, with all sats flown on flight proven boosters already paid off by paying launch customers.
        reitzensteinm 7y ago
        OK, thank you.
tomatotomato37 7y ago
On the other hand, every SUV and truck bought for mall-crawling subsidizes the technology we need for a renewable energy future. These things aren't just a one way street.
DeonPenny 7y ago
Sounds amazing. If car companies will keep selling ICE cars that money should be used to subsidize companies that are trying.