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They also plan on being profitable by mid-year. I wonder if GM, Ford, or Chrysler could say the same? At least the Government has a good chance of their loan

They also plan on being profitable by mid-year. I wonder if GM, Ford, or Chrysler could say the same? At least the Government has a good chance of their loan to Tesla being repaid!

Silentio 18y ago
Yes, it seems like Tesla Motors is building their business the right way. They certainly picked the right name for the company!
- ensignavenger 18y ago
  I agree- I love the name. Nikola Tesla was a brilliant man.
mbowcock 18y ago
It doesn't sound like the money is as wrapped up as the companies press release sounds. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/02/09/daily67.html http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/02/09/daily6... Tesla's plan to be profitable depends on getting the model S built but they can't build the model S unless they get government money. The government won't give them the money unless they can prove viability. Sounds like this won't be resolved for a while.
ssharp 18y ago
Didn't it just come out that their product costing was completely off-base and every car was being sold at a loss. This company has never impressed me and they just don't seem to have the leadership to ever become viable. They've already burned through lots of money, promising the whole time that profitability is right around the corner. This model isn't going to be out until 2011, by then, GM and Toyota will likely have more commercially viable PHEV models available to the public. I just don't see Tesla getting past a niche market. ANd getting past that point should be the expectation given the size of this loan.
- electromagnetic 18y ago
  Toyota I can see having more commercially viable PHEV models, but have you paid attention to any NA automaker's adverts recently? They haven't even noticed that they're in a burning house carrying a crate of gunpowder. I mean watch the commercial for the new Ford F-150, it has steps. Yes their selling feature right now is steps. It's mentally retarded, they completely gloss over the fact they've increased the carrying and towing capacity for the vehicle because they've got steps. They even say something like 'with the extra capacity, you'll need those steps more than ever' and I'm just trying to think through the logic there, because whenever I've seen a truck fully loaded it's been done by a fork lift or a bobcat for when we filled the sucker full of sand... it had a purpose, I swear! And it wasn't sandcastles neither. My point is, is that everybody is watching gas prices to see when they spike up again. The price is quite nice here in Canada, but we're all waiting for it to double and be at the same price it was last summer. What no NA automaker seems to realise is that the market has completely changed, right now almost everyone is wanting fuel efficiency because everyone's afraid they're going to be spending a fortune commuting.
  - ryanwaggoner 18y ago
    they completely gloss over the fact they've increased the carrying and towing capacity for the vehicle because they've got steps Sadly, this might just be because they know their market and they know that most people who buy the F-150 aren't using it to tow stuff, but are the type who are more likely to buy it because it has shiny steps.
    - HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
      You're partly right: I think it's because all the vehicles in its class have roughly the same capability, but the steps can differentiate the F150 from the competition. Around here any truck sold from dealer inventory automatically comes with a tow package and will at least occasionally be used to tow something. Even my Xterra is sometimes used to tow a trailer. People are still buying big trucks: I just bought my wife a used F250 with 7.3L diesel and it's her daily ride!

They also plan on being profitable by mid-year. I wonder if GM, Ford, or Chrysler could say the same? At least the Government has a good chance of their loan to Tesla being repaid!

Silentio 18y ago

Yes, it seems like Tesla Motors is building their business the right way. They certainly picked the right name for the company!

ensignavenger 18y ago
I agree- I love the name. Nikola Tesla was a brilliant man.

mbowcock 18y ago

It doesn't sound like the money is as wrapped up as the companies press release sounds. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/02/09/daily67.html http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/02/09/daily6... Tesla's plan to be profitable depends on getting the model S built but they can't build the model S unless they get government money. The government won't give them the money unless they can prove viability. Sounds like this won't be resolved for a while.

ssharp 18y ago

Didn't it just come out that their product costing was completely off-base and every car was being sold at a loss. This company has never impressed me and they just don't seem to have the leadership to ever become viable. They've already burned through lots of money, promising the whole time that profitability is right around the corner. This model isn't going to be out until 2011, by then, GM and Toyota will likely have more commercially viable PHEV models available to the public. I just don't see Tesla getting past a niche market. ANd getting past that point should be the expectation given the size of this loan.

electromagnetic 18y ago
Toyota I can see having more commercially viable PHEV models, but have you paid attention to any NA automaker's adverts recently? They haven't even noticed that they're in a burning house carrying a crate of gunpowder. I mean watch the commercial for the new Ford F-150, it has steps. Yes their selling feature right now is steps. It's mentally retarded, they completely gloss over the fact they've increased the carrying and towing capacity for the vehicle because they've got steps. They even say something like 'with the extra capacity, you'll need those steps more than ever' and I'm just trying to think through the logic there, because whenever I've seen a truck fully loaded it's been done by a fork lift or a bobcat for when we filled the sucker full of sand... it had a purpose, I swear! And it wasn't sandcastles neither. My point is, is that everybody is watching gas prices to see when they spike up again. The price is quite nice here in Canada, but we're all waiting for it to double and be at the same price it was last summer. What no NA automaker seems to realise is that the market has completely changed, right now almost everyone is wanting fuel efficiency because everyone's afraid they're going to be spending a fortune commuting.
- ryanwaggoner 18y ago
  they completely gloss over the fact they've increased the carrying and towing capacity for the vehicle because they've got steps Sadly, this might just be because they know their market and they know that most people who buy the F-150 aren't using it to tow stuff, but are the type who are more likely to buy it because it has shiny steps.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 18y ago
    You're partly right: I think it's because all the vehicles in its class have roughly the same capability, but the steps can differentiate the F150 from the competition. Around here any truck sold from dealer inventory automatically comes with a tow package and will at least occasionally be used to tow something. Even my Xterra is sometimes used to tow a trailer. People are still buying big trucks: I just bought my wife a used F250 with 7.3L diesel and it's her daily ride!