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This whole discussion is assuming Musk is the problem and somehow caused these layoffs. But all of the "big three" US automakers have laid off thousands of wor

This whole discussion is assuming Musk is the problem and somehow caused these layoffs. But all of the "big three" US automakers have laid off thousands of workers in the last few months. Tech companies have laid off hundreds of thousands. Tesla is both, so isn't it likely that they're dealing with the same forces that caused layoffs at other companies? This discussion seems like several people with pre-existing (and oft-repeated here) grievances twisting evidence to fit their theories instead of forming theories based on the facts. --- (Another fact to consider: in addition to the widespread layoffs already mentioned, there's also growing competition from hybrid makers. US automakers race to build more hybrids as EV sales slow https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-automakers-race-build-more-hybrids-ev-sales-slow-2024-03-15/ https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-aut... )

panarky 3y ago
>> I refuse to buy a Tesla > assuming Musk is the problem The answer, of course, is "all of the above". Yes, Tesla is subject to the same forces as other car companies. On top of that, some percentage of potential customers refuse to buy Teslas because Musk personally tainted the brand. And that second factor could easily explain the difference between a 5% drop in shipments and their actual 13% drop YoY.
advael 3y ago
It seems like most of those layoffs are a rather cynical ploy to create a temporary stock boost and pay for a buyback, maybe with some labor market manipulation (specifically, scaring developers into accepting lower wages, not unionizing, and not demanding remote work) getting done along the way. Tesla, like many tech companies and auto manufacturers, but also like most American businesses, essentially drives its decision-making around some complicated financial game the plutocrats are playing with stocks, increasingly to the detriment of anything us mere mortals can comprehend like making and/or selling goods and/or services
angiosperm 3y ago
Poor build quality, unreliability, and extremely high repair costs keep away another group. If you have a Tesla, get the suspension checked at least twice a year, and after hitting any pothole. A broken suspension can kill you.

panarky 3y ago

>> I refuse to buy a Tesla > assuming Musk is the problem The answer, of course, is "all of the above". Yes, Tesla is subject to the same forces as other car companies. On top of that, some percentage of potential customers refuse to buy Teslas because Musk personally tainted the brand. And that second factor could easily explain the difference between a 5% drop in shipments and their actual 13% drop YoY.

advael 3y ago

It seems like most of those layoffs are a rather cynical ploy to create a temporary stock boost and pay for a buyback, maybe with some labor market manipulation (specifically, scaring developers into accepting lower wages, not unionizing, and not demanding remote work) getting done along the way. Tesla, like many tech companies and auto manufacturers, but also like most American businesses, essentially drives its decision-making around some complicated financial game the plutocrats are playing with stocks, increasingly to the detriment of anything us mere mortals can comprehend like making and/or selling goods and/or services

angiosperm 3y ago

Poor build quality, unreliability, and extremely high repair costs keep away another group. If you have a Tesla, get the suspension checked at least twice a year, and after hitting any pothole. A broken suspension can kill you.