4 ms·

Nobody here seems to remember that this was always the plan: release expensive cars to bootstrap the company which allows them to release progressively cheaper

by tcdent 8mo ago

Nobody here seems to remember that this was always the plan: release expensive cars to bootstrap the company which allows them to release progressively cheaper cars until everyone can afford one. Not a fanboy, but this seems like it went exactly according to plan.

malfist 8mo ago
Where exactly are those cheaper cars? Still waiting for a 30k model 3 like promised.
- willio58 8mo ago
  Elon got distracted and decided we want humanoid robots.
- avar 8mo ago
  You already have it. Musk's earliest promise of a $30k price point appears to be an interview in September 2009: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2009/09/25/teslas-elon-musk-on-a-sub-30000-electric-car https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2009/09/25/teslas-elon-musk-on-... Adjusted for inflation, $30k then is around $45k now. Tesla sells a Model 3 for just over $35k. It doesn't make any sense to hold someone to a promise like that and not adjust it for inflation. I think you can legitimately complain that he didn't meet the timeline he was aiming for.
  - consumer451 8mo ago
    I think your point is fair, but look at the 2026 Nissan Leaf. The base is around $28k. This feels like one of the first "affordable" EVs in the USA. It also comes with decent tech without a subscription, and has comparable ranges to Teslas. https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/leaf https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/leaf
  - FireBeyond 8mo ago
    Meanwhile folks are waiting (no, not really) for their $35K Cybertruck...
- cmxch 8mo ago
  Buy it used?
tensor 8mo ago
Nowhere in that plan was "only produce cheap cars." Unless you're aim is to be the budget brand, it's bizarre behaviour not to have a top end flagship model.
inerte 8mo ago
Yes. It's interesting to see a consequence of this strategy, which is at least some part of your model 3/Y customers bought it because "it is a Tesla", and being Tesla is premium. If you get rid of the premium, you lose that aura. But maybe the impact is small.
mattas 8mo ago
Which phase of the plan talks about repurposing the cheap car factory to make humanoid robots?

by tcdent 8mo ago

malfist 8mo ago

Where exactly are those cheaper cars? Still waiting for a 30k model 3 like promised.

willio58 8mo ago
Elon got distracted and decided we want humanoid robots.
avar 8mo ago
You already have it. Musk's earliest promise of a $30k price point appears to be an interview in September 2009: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2009/09/25/teslas-elon-musk-on-a-sub-30000-electric-car https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2009/09/25/teslas-elon-musk-on-... Adjusted for inflation, $30k then is around $45k now. Tesla sells a Model 3 for just over $35k. It doesn't make any sense to hold someone to a promise like that and not adjust it for inflation. I think you can legitimately complain that he didn't meet the timeline he was aiming for.
- consumer451 8mo ago
  I think your point is fair, but look at the 2026 Nissan Leaf. The base is around $28k. This feels like one of the first "affordable" EVs in the USA. It also comes with decent tech without a subscription, and has comparable ranges to Teslas. https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/leaf https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/leaf
- FireBeyond 8mo ago
  Meanwhile folks are waiting (no, not really) for their $35K Cybertruck...
cmxch 8mo ago
Buy it used?

tensor 8mo ago

Nowhere in that plan was "only produce cheap cars." Unless you're aim is to be the budget brand, it's bizarre behaviour not to have a top end flagship model.

inerte 8mo ago

Yes. It's interesting to see a consequence of this strategy, which is at least some part of your model 3/Y customers bought it because "it is a Tesla", and being Tesla is premium. If you get rid of the premium, you lose that aura. But maybe the impact is small.

mattas 8mo ago

Which phase of the plan talks about repurposing the cheap car factory to make humanoid robots?