4 ms·

Bold move to extort public officials with threats to move a factory you're attempting to fully automate and a few hundred white collar positions to a state wher

Bold move to extort public officials with threats to move a factory you're attempting to fully automate and a few hundred white collar positions to a state where your main bargaining chip is jobs when you possess less than 5% market share, a vertical monopoly and a luxury product in a crashing market. Excited to see how this one turns out.

samsonradu 6y ago
Indeed, looking at the bigger picture I can't help seeing the absurdity of it. For all the praising of Tesla cars, which might very well be founded, it's just a freaking car in a market where demand fell off a cliff.
- badRNG 6y ago
  I have to wonder if these actions by Musk are going to hurt the brand image of Tesla. Sure people buy the car because it has cool gimmick features and is electric, but when you buy a car for $30k+ there's a reason you spent that kind of money: the car is a form of self expression (whether one would like to admit it or not.) When one buys a Tesla, it indicates that they are with the times, both technologically and socially.
  - otachack 6y ago
    Didn't Tesla push the boundaries on EV, though, whereas traditional car companies were just fine with continuing production of gas based vehicles? I guess there were hybrids but it felt like Toyota was the only big player there.
    - badRNG 6y ago
      Chevy was also a big EV/hybrid player in the mid to late '00s. I think the sort of individual that buys an expensive vehicle to, at least in part, broadcast that they are an environmentally-conscious person would be turned off by a company strong-arming a county into relaxing regulations, especially when such deregulation is perceived to put that company's workers at risk. While the facts of what public policy is best can be debated, it seems inevitable that Tesla's brand will suffer from this.
      - mike50 6y ago
        General Motors is the company. Chevrolet is a band.
  - ryanwaggoner 6y ago
    Yes. I would probably still buy a Tesla at this point if I were going to buy a new car, but Musk continually drives down my enthusiasm for doing so.
  - travisporter 6y ago
    I saved up for a used Tesla this year and have decided to hold off. I asked on another HN thread whether musk believes in climate change and didn’t hear anything. But to me, the covid tweets going against science makes me think he doesn’t really care for a low carbon footprint. So I guess I don’t know now if it is really a net carbon benefit to owning a Tesla versus another sedan over the next five years.
    - carlivar 6y ago
      Research Musk promises about solar on top of his factories' roofs versus reality (spoiler: there is barely any). This is the most obvious thing he can do and he can't even meet that promise.
    - badRNG 6y ago
      I think I've always found myself a little skeptical that "voting with the pocketbook" can resolve climate change. It often seems to be a choice only available to those wealthy enough to spend time considering the carbon effect of the products they consume, and a way for wealthier people to flaunt their luxury green products without appearing entirely self important. For the majority of people who can't afford a $30k Tesla, they will simply buy what they can afford and what will meet their needs.
      - travisporter 6y ago
        No I think it can. There’s so many green initiatives in companies and divesting from coal. I’m not deluding myself that someone is looking at carbon emissions of their supply chains meticulously but the sentiment is there, which means something.
koheripbal 6y ago
These are high paying jobs and a rich tax paying business. I expect many cities would jump at the opportunity to have Tesla move there.
- 54351623 6y ago
  I'm not saying other cities, especially in Texas, wouldn't jump at the opportunity. I just think it's a bold move.
csomar 6y ago
It's 10k jobs. Could easily support 50k (directly/indirectly and dependents of the workers). That's a big number especially we are talking counties not states.
downerending 6y ago
There is no extortion here. The position might be unwise, but it's not illegal. It's a negotiation, and walking away is always an option. Put another way, if it was real extortion, other states would certainly not be welcoming the company to come hither.

samsonradu 6y ago

Indeed, looking at the bigger picture I can't help seeing the absurdity of it. For all the praising of Tesla cars, which might very well be founded, it's just a freaking car in a market where demand fell off a cliff.

badRNG 6y ago
I have to wonder if these actions by Musk are going to hurt the brand image of Tesla. Sure people buy the car because it has cool gimmick features and is electric, but when you buy a car for $30k+ there's a reason you spent that kind of money: the car is a form of self expression (whether one would like to admit it or not.) When one buys a Tesla, it indicates that they are with the times, both technologically and socially.
- otachack 6y ago
  Didn't Tesla push the boundaries on EV, though, whereas traditional car companies were just fine with continuing production of gas based vehicles? I guess there were hybrids but it felt like Toyota was the only big player there.
  - badRNG 6y ago
    Chevy was also a big EV/hybrid player in the mid to late '00s. I think the sort of individual that buys an expensive vehicle to, at least in part, broadcast that they are an environmentally-conscious person would be turned off by a company strong-arming a county into relaxing regulations, especially when such deregulation is perceived to put that company's workers at risk. While the facts of what public policy is best can be debated, it seems inevitable that Tesla's brand will suffer from this.
    - mike50 6y ago
      General Motors is the company. Chevrolet is a band.
- ryanwaggoner 6y ago
  Yes. I would probably still buy a Tesla at this point if I were going to buy a new car, but Musk continually drives down my enthusiasm for doing so.
- travisporter 6y ago
  I saved up for a used Tesla this year and have decided to hold off. I asked on another HN thread whether musk believes in climate change and didn’t hear anything. But to me, the covid tweets going against science makes me think he doesn’t really care for a low carbon footprint. So I guess I don’t know now if it is really a net carbon benefit to owning a Tesla versus another sedan over the next five years.
  - carlivar 6y ago
    Research Musk promises about solar on top of his factories' roofs versus reality (spoiler: there is barely any). This is the most obvious thing he can do and he can't even meet that promise.
  - badRNG 6y ago
    I think I've always found myself a little skeptical that "voting with the pocketbook" can resolve climate change. It often seems to be a choice only available to those wealthy enough to spend time considering the carbon effect of the products they consume, and a way for wealthier people to flaunt their luxury green products without appearing entirely self important. For the majority of people who can't afford a $30k Tesla, they will simply buy what they can afford and what will meet their needs.
    - travisporter 6y ago
      No I think it can. There’s so many green initiatives in companies and divesting from coal. I’m not deluding myself that someone is looking at carbon emissions of their supply chains meticulously but the sentiment is there, which means something.

koheripbal 6y ago

These are high paying jobs and a rich tax paying business. I expect many cities would jump at the opportunity to have Tesla move there.

54351623 6y ago
I'm not saying other cities, especially in Texas, wouldn't jump at the opportunity. I just think it's a bold move.

csomar 6y ago

It's 10k jobs. Could easily support 50k (directly/indirectly and dependents of the workers). That's a big number especially we are talking counties not states.

downerending 6y ago

There is no extortion here. The position might be unwise, but it's not illegal. It's a negotiation, and walking away is always an option. Put another way, if it was real extortion, other states would certainly not be welcoming the company to come hither.