The original Tesla was only practical for 1% of consumers. If the Model S is practical for 10%, that's real progress. Low cost and high reliability come from v

The original Tesla was only practical for 1% of consumers. If the Model S is practical for 10%, that's real progress. Low cost and high reliability come from volume production, which creates a chicken and egg problem. Elon started with the very high end, and is working his way down as a method to gradually build volumes and develop experience and technology to eventually build high volume low cost cars for everyone. Contrast that to the "expensive fat econobox" approaches the other carmakers tried and abandoned.