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I think one of the main reasons that a line gets drawn between Musk and the others is the focus of the business models. While Musk focuses of space station resu

I think one of the main reasons that a line gets drawn between Musk and the others is the focus of the business models. While Musk focuses of space station resupply and satellite launch, in addition to "Mars Missions", Branson and Bezos have fully stated that they are in the business of space tourism. Those are very real reasons to draw a line in the sand between SpaceX and Blue Origin and Virgin. As for the founders. Meh. They're circus show men, but at least Musk comes from an engineering back ground, I guess? But the difference in mission is important.

superfrank 5y ago
> While Musk focuses of space station resupply and satellite launch, in addition to "Mars Missions", Branson and Bezos have fully stated that they are in the business of space tourism. That's kind of a silly argument in my mind. Tesla started out making electric sports cars that cost $100,000+ each. Just because a company focuses on high margin products for the super rich when they are starting off, doesn't mean they aren't making significant technological progress that can benefit the world.
- UnpossibleJim 5y ago
  Sure, but in the automotive world Musk is taken to task plenty when it comes to "more serious" EV's with more moderate performance that appeal to a broader market. He is given credit for popularizing the market, again, thanks to his carnival barker style, but he isn't bringing EV's to the masses. That's a large void that companies like Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota are filling =/
  - least 5y ago
    Musk's contribution to EVs isn't just that he brought them to market, but that he made them a highly desirable technology. That it's "cool" and "hip" to own an electric vehicle, something that everyone else up to this point had failed to do. Like you said, "carnival barker style." Yeah, the reality is that the big car manufacturers are going to be the ones to commoditize it because they are experts in commoditization and manufacturing processes that Tesla still struggles with today. That may have even happened without Tesla. But I am confident that Tesla has accelerated the adoption of EV and I think it's fair to say that in this sense, yes, Musk absolutely is "bringing EVs to the masses."
  - alasdair_ 5y ago
    Tesla famously made their EV patents free for other car makers like Ford and Toyota to use. Without Tesla paving the way those other car makers would likely still be focused on ICE cars.
- viraptor 5y ago
  Tesla's plan from the start was: luxury cars now to fund cheaper mass production later.
  - jeffbee 5y ago
    That doesn't stand scrutiny of the facts. Tesla lost money on every Model S.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - viraptor 5y ago
      https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-j... > In keeping with a fast growing technology company, all free cash flow is plowed back into R&D to drive down the costs and bring the follow on products to market as fast as possible. When someone buys the Tesla Roadster sports car, they are actually helping pay for development of the low cost family car. Not only was that the plan in 2006, you'd expect them to lose a bit of money as long as they have available funds, in order to get to mass production faster.
tootie 5y ago
Blue Origin is absolutely doing space exploration work as well. They have multiple contracts with NASA https://www.nasa.gov/subject/5482/blue-origin/ https://www.nasa.gov/subject/5482/blue-origin/
- adolph 5y ago
  You forgot the phrase “from the ground” in the first sentence.

superfrank 5y ago

> While Musk focuses of space station resupply and satellite launch, in addition to "Mars Missions", Branson and Bezos have fully stated that they are in the business of space tourism. That's kind of a silly argument in my mind. Tesla started out making electric sports cars that cost $100,000+ each. Just because a company focuses on high margin products for the super rich when they are starting off, doesn't mean they aren't making significant technological progress that can benefit the world.

UnpossibleJim 5y ago
Sure, but in the automotive world Musk is taken to task plenty when it comes to "more serious" EV's with more moderate performance that appeal to a broader market. He is given credit for popularizing the market, again, thanks to his carnival barker style, but he isn't bringing EV's to the masses. That's a large void that companies like Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota are filling =/
- least 5y ago
  Musk's contribution to EVs isn't just that he brought them to market, but that he made them a highly desirable technology. That it's "cool" and "hip" to own an electric vehicle, something that everyone else up to this point had failed to do. Like you said, "carnival barker style." Yeah, the reality is that the big car manufacturers are going to be the ones to commoditize it because they are experts in commoditization and manufacturing processes that Tesla still struggles with today. That may have even happened without Tesla. But I am confident that Tesla has accelerated the adoption of EV and I think it's fair to say that in this sense, yes, Musk absolutely is "bringing EVs to the masses."
- alasdair_ 5y ago
  Tesla famously made their EV patents free for other car makers like Ford and Toyota to use. Without Tesla paving the way those other car makers would likely still be focused on ICE cars.
viraptor 5y ago
Tesla's plan from the start was: luxury cars now to fund cheaper mass production later.
- jeffbee 5y ago
  That doesn't stand scrutiny of the facts. Tesla lost money on every Model S.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - viraptor 5y ago
    https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-j... > In keeping with a fast growing technology company, all free cash flow is plowed back into R&D to drive down the costs and bring the follow on products to market as fast as possible. When someone buys the Tesla Roadster sports car, they are actually helping pay for development of the low cost family car. Not only was that the plan in 2006, you'd expect them to lose a bit of money as long as they have available funds, in order to get to mass production faster.

tootie 5y ago

Blue Origin is absolutely doing space exploration work as well. They have multiple contracts with NASA https://www.nasa.gov/subject/5482/blue-origin/ https://www.nasa.gov/subject/5482/blue-origin/

adolph 5y ago
You forgot the phrase “from the ground” in the first sentence.