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It's not about the dealership model, it's about taking quality seriously and not just slapping things together and pushing them out the door with minimal QC lik

by jolux 5y ago

It's not about the dealership model, it's about taking quality seriously and not just slapping things together and pushing them out the door with minimal QC like a software startup in a tight market. It's clear by now that Elon thinks it's more important to ship more cars than to ship quality cars, and he may be correct, but he also has yet to prove that he is actually capable of the latter.

afarrell 5y ago
Elon’s job isn’t to make sure that the cars actually have brake pads. Elon’s job is to ensure he’s hiring leaders who won’t repeatedly use racial slurs for the people whose jobs are to make sure the cars actually have brake pads. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58807212 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58807212
- HWR_14 5y ago
  It's also Elon's job to make sure that cars have break pads. He is supposed to do that by delegating, but it's definitely his job.
ericbarrett 5y ago
Dealers usually have to prep a new car on the lot—a quick inspection of lights, brakes, steering, leaks; aligning the headlights; stuff like that. I'd argue the dealership model is relevant here.
- jolux 5y ago
  Yes but there’s no reason it has to be a dealership doing that. The manufacturer could do that before they deliver the car. The manufacturer could run the dealership themselves. There’s not a ton of great reasons to preserve this institution in law.
  - badlucklottery 5y ago
    >The manufacturer could do that before they deliver the car. Cars do get jacked up in transit. Like "a large piece of metal road debris pierced the window and seat" bad (personal experience). So, even if it leaves the factory in pristine condition, someone at the end of the line will need to look at it to make sure it's 100%. Tesla has decided that final check responsibility falls on the end user. Also I suspect it's more efficient for the manufacturer and dealerships to just roll all of that into the end-of-the-line inspection instead of splitting it over two locations. >The manufacturer could run the dealership themselves. This would work if there was a way for states to ensure the manufacturers had some serious skin in the game so they'd fear legal action.
  - HWR_14 5y ago
    The dealer being a legal entity incorporated in the same state you bought the car insures that they operate under state law and makes it far easier for either the state or the individual to seek legal redress when needed.
    - kosievdmerwe 5y ago
      In addition, the fact that they're separate from the manufacturer means their incentives are also not aligned. They're incentivized to find issues, both pre delivery and during maintenance (especially during the warranty period)
      - tekknik 5y ago
        how are their incentives not aligned? both are there to make money by moving as many vehicles as possible. if a problem is found with a vehicle they have on their lot then it’s out of inventory until it’s fixed or replaced. the incentives look exactly the same to me.

by jolux 5y ago

afarrell 5y ago

Elon’s job isn’t to make sure that the cars actually have brake pads. Elon’s job is to ensure he’s hiring leaders who won’t repeatedly use racial slurs for the people whose jobs are to make sure the cars actually have brake pads. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58807212 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58807212

HWR_14 5y ago
It's also Elon's job to make sure that cars have break pads. He is supposed to do that by delegating, but it's definitely his job.

ericbarrett 5y ago

Dealers usually have to prep a new car on the lot—a quick inspection of lights, brakes, steering, leaks; aligning the headlights; stuff like that. I'd argue the dealership model is relevant here.

jolux 5y ago
Yes but there’s no reason it has to be a dealership doing that. The manufacturer could do that before they deliver the car. The manufacturer could run the dealership themselves. There’s not a ton of great reasons to preserve this institution in law.
- badlucklottery 5y ago
  >The manufacturer could do that before they deliver the car. Cars do get jacked up in transit. Like "a large piece of metal road debris pierced the window and seat" bad (personal experience). So, even if it leaves the factory in pristine condition, someone at the end of the line will need to look at it to make sure it's 100%. Tesla has decided that final check responsibility falls on the end user. Also I suspect it's more efficient for the manufacturer and dealerships to just roll all of that into the end-of-the-line inspection instead of splitting it over two locations. >The manufacturer could run the dealership themselves. This would work if there was a way for states to ensure the manufacturers had some serious skin in the game so they'd fear legal action.
- HWR_14 5y ago
  The dealer being a legal entity incorporated in the same state you bought the car insures that they operate under state law and makes it far easier for either the state or the individual to seek legal redress when needed.
  - kosievdmerwe 5y ago
    In addition, the fact that they're separate from the manufacturer means their incentives are also not aligned. They're incentivized to find issues, both pre delivery and during maintenance (especially during the warranty period)
    - tekknik 5y ago
      how are their incentives not aligned? both are there to make money by moving as many vehicles as possible. if a problem is found with a vehicle they have on their lot then it’s out of inventory until it’s fixed or replaced. the incentives look exactly the same to me.