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> How will Tesla, who did 4 models in ten years, compete with the sheer breadth of this market? Looking at what’s parked in the street, people choose lots of di
by Infinitesimus 7y ago
> How will Tesla, who did 4 models in ten years, compete with the sheer breadth of this market? Looking at what’s parked in the street, people choose lots of different types of cars, there’s no one-fits-all.
Imagine this argument:
"How will Apple, who only has one phone model, compete with the sheer breadth of this market? Looking at what’s in people's hands, people choose lots of different types of phones, there’s no one-fits-all."
Yet here we are. Having so many car models is frankly exhausting.
One of my silly little hobbies is trying to spec out cars online I dream of buying and everything becomes a chore after the first 10 seconds. Options that I don't want to think about being nickel-and-dimed for, features that should come standard but require an upgrade 'package' I dont want etc.
Until they change how they think about cars, Tesla will keep beating them in the market in the price ranges Tesla competes in. And shit will hit the fan if Tesla ever figures out a way to make a much cheaper car for the mass market
- veggieburglar 7y agoApple is currently selling six different iPhone models on its website.
- tonyedgecombe 7y agoYes, Apple made a lot of noise about the original lineup being simple because that was all they had. Commercial pressures will always lead to lots of choices because that's how the company extracts the most value it can from each customer.
- Infinitesimus 7y agoYep, but they didn't launch with all 6. In fact, they added each one after tremendous market pressure (larger phones, multiple sizes, a one-handed budget-friendly model). Tesla might very well have 10 cars in the future but for now, buying a Tesla is an easy decision: 1. Do I want a big sedan? Model S 2. Do I want a big suv? Model X 3. Do I want a smaller sedan? Model 3 4. Do I want a smaller suv/crossover/cuv? Model Y And just like apple, you get very similar experience across the entire lineup. Autopilot, automatic updates, etc. Not "Well, you can buy the lexus/bimmer/merc if you want a more luxurious experience but the base model is honestly just okay so you should probably get a specced out mid-tier car instead unless you have the $$ to spend on a top trim"
- whatarethembits 7y agoThis. Cognitive load is largely ignored when it comes to these arguments on HN, which is ironic given the demographic's profession. Traditional manufacturers have made it so unnecessarily difficult to feel good about your purchase. They offer "choices" rather than choices. No matter what configuration I choose, I just know I'm being screwed over somehow, just not sure how exactly. You make a decision based on reviews of a particular model only to find there are 300 sub models and everything good you read is dependent on very specific trim choices. Choose the wrong suspension configuration and the car is far from what it could be. You can't expect normal people to keep up with the minutae of every combination of trim levels to make the best decision. And we can't rely on dealerships for their expertise to get correct info because they have proven themselves to be scam artists over the decades. I have a hard time believing that companies could be this bad at organising and categorising their offerings unintentionally. This experience has to be intentional. Tesla makes this process much simpler. I'm a motorcycle enthusiast, I don't care to keep up with boring car minutae. I need something that works, and is simple to deal with so I can focus on other aspects of life with its utility. Virtually every other big manufacturer lags behind Tesla in this department.