6 ms·

Tesla is in a bit of a bind in that the model y is difficult to improve (beyond the upcoming highland refresh). Fundamentally, it does its job so well that all

Tesla is in a bit of a bind in that the model y is difficult to improve (beyond the upcoming highland refresh). Fundamentally, it does its job so well that all it needs are minor tweaks. Supercharging network is essentially complete from a fundamentals perspective, you can nearly go anywhere with a EV with a bit of planning. The market can fill in the gaps. The roadster and semi situations are headscratchers, but I guess Tesla doesn’t want to hassle with a “sports car” with the same performance as its biggest sedan. I don’t think the Semi really works purely from an energy density perspective. Diesel-electric hybrids make far more sense for big rigs for current battery tech. The Tesla semi is sorta stuck. The layoffs make sense in that light. They have implemented the step change in Ev Manufacturing, built the machine to build the machines, are very close with FSD, built the charging network… working to avoid innovators dilemma, perhaps? Treating employees poorly is no good.

xvector 2y ago
Advice for future Musk employees: Do a somewhat shitty job, otherwise you'll get fired as soon as you build a stable product.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  same could be said for home builders and heart surgeons. Do a shitty job or you wont be needed anymore.
  - ImPostingOnHN 2y ago
    Home-building companies and hospitals do need home builders and heart surgeons. Are they all doing shitty jobs?
    - s1artibartfast 2y ago
      And Tesla still has employees, but fewer than before. I was trying to highlight the idea that most workers dont have to rely on having a shitty work product to ensure their job security. This itself is a reaction to the idea that a job offer is a life long commitment akin to marriage. In a healthy labor market, employers would want to retain talent because it is profitable to do so. I don't employers retaining unproductive employees is a desirable state.
      - mandeepj 2y ago
        > And Tesla still has employees, but fewer than before They know they can hire more; Anytime they'd post an ad, there'd be millions of applicants. So, the input funnel is not their problem. https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/much-more-difficult-to-get-into-spacex-tesla-than-harvard-says-elon-musk-381650-2023-05-17 https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/much-more...
        s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Indeed. This means that they can employ more people when it is productive to do so, and let them go when they dont need or want them. I think this is a good thing in general. I dont think we should structure our expectations or the labor market around the idea that companies should retain unprofitable workers.
        matthewdgreen 2y ago
        Developing a bad reputation is like sunburn. It doesn't turn into cancer instantly, but it slowly accumulates damage over time. Right now a top worker (particularly in a critical field like AI) has a lot of choices, and the company that gets a reputation for randomly firing entire teams is going to be a harder sell.
        s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Perhaps, but that is a strategy decision for the company, and potential employee.
        mandeepj 2y ago
        Checkout Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Those who need a job urgently especially now a days wouldn't look into "reputation". They may not even leave later as long as their needs are met. https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of-Needs.pdf https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of...
- ein0p 2y ago
  To be fair that’s good advice for most people in large corporations. I’ve even seen people deliberately spin up crises out of nothing to then heroically solve them and get an easy promo.
93po 2y ago
Semi has specific use cases where it's great, it's not necessarily economic for all use cases as of today though
- ethagknight 2y ago
  Its target market, per Tesla, is not those use cases. I think electric yard tractors are already a thing. The “electrify road shipping” would go a lot smoother if Tesla was honest about “electric performance + a diesel base load” but I guess Elon doesn’t want to concede the argument? Honestly surprised no one else has moved in this space?? Maybe it just doesn’t work?

xvector 2y ago

Advice for future Musk employees: Do a somewhat shitty job, otherwise you'll get fired as soon as you build a stable product.

s1artibartfast 2y ago
same could be said for home builders and heart surgeons. Do a shitty job or you wont be needed anymore.
- ImPostingOnHN 2y ago
  Home-building companies and hospitals do need home builders and heart surgeons. Are they all doing shitty jobs?
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    And Tesla still has employees, but fewer than before. I was trying to highlight the idea that most workers dont have to rely on having a shitty work product to ensure their job security. This itself is a reaction to the idea that a job offer is a life long commitment akin to marriage. In a healthy labor market, employers would want to retain talent because it is profitable to do so. I don't employers retaining unproductive employees is a desirable state.
    - mandeepj 2y ago
      > And Tesla still has employees, but fewer than before They know they can hire more; Anytime they'd post an ad, there'd be millions of applicants. So, the input funnel is not their problem. https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/much-more-difficult-to-get-into-spacex-tesla-than-harvard-says-elon-musk-381650-2023-05-17 https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/much-more...
      - s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Indeed. This means that they can employ more people when it is productive to do so, and let them go when they dont need or want them. I think this is a good thing in general. I dont think we should structure our expectations or the labor market around the idea that companies should retain unprofitable workers.
        matthewdgreen 2y ago
        Developing a bad reputation is like sunburn. It doesn't turn into cancer instantly, but it slowly accumulates damage over time. Right now a top worker (particularly in a critical field like AI) has a lot of choices, and the company that gets a reputation for randomly firing entire teams is going to be a harder sell.
        s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Perhaps, but that is a strategy decision for the company, and potential employee.
        mandeepj 2y ago
        Checkout Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Those who need a job urgently especially now a days wouldn't look into "reputation". They may not even leave later as long as their needs are met. https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of-Needs.pdf https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of...
ein0p 2y ago
To be fair that’s good advice for most people in large corporations. I’ve even seen people deliberately spin up crises out of nothing to then heroically solve them and get an easy promo.

93po 2y ago

Semi has specific use cases where it's great, it's not necessarily economic for all use cases as of today though

ethagknight 2y ago
Its target market, per Tesla, is not those use cases. I think electric yard tractors are already a thing. The “electrify road shipping” would go a lot smoother if Tesla was honest about “electric performance + a diesel base load” but I guess Elon doesn’t want to concede the argument? Honestly surprised no one else has moved in this space?? Maybe it just doesn’t work?