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How much of a head start does Tesla have over traditional ICE-based auto manufacturers? It feels like a 10-year head start from my uninformed opinion. It will

by Yhippa 7y ago

How much of a head start does Tesla have over traditional ICE-based auto manufacturers? It feels like a 10-year head start from my uninformed opinion. It will take a lot of work to change engineering ops, supply chains, and deal with pensions.

foepys 7y ago
Not really. German car companies buy most of the parts from suppliers. Those suppliers often have decades of experience with electric motors and batteries, see Bosch. If a supplier only does ICE components, they are out and the car company will find a new supplier.
- growlist 7y ago
  There's a technology race on, and Tesla are clearly pretty aggressive in pursuit of innovation. I don't think the possibility of them having a lead over German companies as regards batteries is far-fetched at all.
- dillonmckay 7y ago
  “ I talk here about Tesla as an existential thread for the German automotive industry, and why that is real and backed up with facts.” https://cleantechnica.com/2018/09/25/tesla-an-uncomfortable-wake-up-call-for-germany-all-hands-on-deck/ https://cleantechnica.com/2018/09/25/tesla-an-uncomfortable-...
Wohlf 7y ago
Nissan-Renault sells more EVs than Tesla, so none.
- shookness 7y ago
  Wrong: https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/04/tesla-model-3-sales-4x-nissan-leaf-sales-worlds-2nd-best-selling-ev-outside-of-china-november-ev-sales-report/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/04/tesla-model-3-sales-4x-...
tyfon 7y ago
The biggest advantage of Tesla in EU compared to the other is the streamlined and cheap charging network. If you don't have a Tesla you need like 10 apps for charging to travel through EU and you'll be paying through your nose for fast charging.
- de_watcher 7y ago
  For the UK it's maybe 10 apps (or it was some time ago). On the continent you'll be fine with one RFID card.
  - tyfon 7y ago
    Well I guess you can get by with plugsurfing or virta but they add a surcharge so you'll be paying for the convenience. But you need to know which networks you can use them on too, not all the charging companies are on plugsurfing and not all are on virta etc. I hope one day they all will just have a card terminal like gas stations or charge ID like tesla with the superchargers or mercedes with ionity.
SideburnsOfDoom 7y ago
> Tesla has ... like a 10-year head start from my uninformed opinion. In some ways yes, in other ways the incumbents are a decade ahead. Both sides are racing to replicate the other's competence. Tesla has just shipped their 1 millionth vehicle ever, after 17 years. (1) VW ships around 11 million vehicles per year. Every year. (2) Tesla needs the scale with reliable high build quality that VW has. VW needs to make more of them electric vehicles, and to that end make them comparable to Teslas. 1) https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/10/tesla-elon-musk-electric-cars-electric-vehicles-model-3/5008549002/ https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/10/tesla-el... 2) https://www.statista.com/topics/1574/volkswagen/ https://www.statista.com/topics/1574/volkswagen/

by Yhippa 7y ago

foepys 7y ago

Not really. German car companies buy most of the parts from suppliers. Those suppliers often have decades of experience with electric motors and batteries, see Bosch. If a supplier only does ICE components, they are out and the car company will find a new supplier.

growlist 7y ago
There's a technology race on, and Tesla are clearly pretty aggressive in pursuit of innovation. I don't think the possibility of them having a lead over German companies as regards batteries is far-fetched at all.
dillonmckay 7y ago
“ I talk here about Tesla as an existential thread for the German automotive industry, and why that is real and backed up with facts.” https://cleantechnica.com/2018/09/25/tesla-an-uncomfortable-wake-up-call-for-germany-all-hands-on-deck/ https://cleantechnica.com/2018/09/25/tesla-an-uncomfortable-...

Wohlf 7y ago

Nissan-Renault sells more EVs than Tesla, so none.

shookness 7y ago
Wrong: https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/04/tesla-model-3-sales-4x-nissan-leaf-sales-worlds-2nd-best-selling-ev-outside-of-china-november-ev-sales-report/ https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/04/tesla-model-3-sales-4x-...

tyfon 7y ago

The biggest advantage of Tesla in EU compared to the other is the streamlined and cheap charging network. If you don't have a Tesla you need like 10 apps for charging to travel through EU and you'll be paying through your nose for fast charging.

de_watcher 7y ago
For the UK it's maybe 10 apps (or it was some time ago). On the continent you'll be fine with one RFID card.
- tyfon 7y ago
  Well I guess you can get by with plugsurfing or virta but they add a surcharge so you'll be paying for the convenience. But you need to know which networks you can use them on too, not all the charging companies are on plugsurfing and not all are on virta etc. I hope one day they all will just have a card terminal like gas stations or charge ID like tesla with the superchargers or mercedes with ionity.

SideburnsOfDoom 7y ago

> Tesla has ... like a 10-year head start from my uninformed opinion. In some ways yes, in other ways the incumbents are a decade ahead. Both sides are racing to replicate the other's competence. Tesla has just shipped their 1 millionth vehicle ever, after 17 years. (1) VW ships around 11 million vehicles per year. Every year. (2) Tesla needs the scale with reliable high build quality that VW has. VW needs to make more of them electric vehicles, and to that end make them comparable to Teslas. 1) https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/10/tesla-elon-musk-electric-cars-electric-vehicles-model-3/5008549002/ https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/10/tesla-el... 2) https://www.statista.com/topics/1574/volkswagen/ https://www.statista.com/topics/1574/volkswagen/