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Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk
- joshuamerrill 13y agoI was there today. The emotion was shared and felt by everyone in the room. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems like this could ultimately become a serious free speech issue. Edit: I ask a very dry question at the 45 minute mark. I'm pretty easy to spot because I'm wearing Google Glass.
- pavs 13y agoNot to sound mean (and people usually say that when they know that they could come out as mean), but for some reason that reminded me of people who walks around with bluetooth headset and talking to themselves, surrounded by a lot of people. Its just me though. Otherwise your question was interesting and unpredictable, almost all the other questions were something I would have thought about asking. You know the usual stuff.
- babby 13y agoCouldnt help but think "Wouldn't mind seeing his Glass video feed" though.
- krosaen 13y agoStart at minute 49 to see the full context - it's about fighting the automotive dealers association for the right to sell directly to consumers.
- mmaunder 13y agoThanks, agreed, crappy title. The insight he provides into the auto industry in those few minutes is awesome. It explains why I've consistently had a crap experience buying cars over the years (they don't make any money selling them) and why car service costs so much in the USA.
- flinty 13y agoYeah. This planet money podcast covers the same issues in a bit more detail http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/12/171814201/episode-435-why-buying-a-car-is-so-awful http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/12/171814201/episode-...
- l33tbro 13y agoIt's a tough fight too. I mean, this association has been around for almost 100 years. A lot of bills greasing politicians hands too ('Murica!!). Tesla have their work cut out for them in disrupting this megalithic entity. Best of luck; sincerely mean that. These guys are effectively patent trolls, and will do anything to hawk their inferior wares.
- r00fus 13y agoTesla has momentum, however. And most people hate dealerships. They want the Apple experience for cars - and Tesla is ready to give it to them. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.
- macmac 13y agoThe passion fuelling that emotion is going to put people on Mars, crush GM and take you from SF to LA in 25 mins.
- czottmann 13y agoOne can only hope.
- tocomment 13y agoMy standing question for that is wouldn't a launch loop have to be located over the ocean, at least say 10 miles out? And then wouldn't it take much longer 25 minutes to take a boat trip out, take the trip and then take a boat trip back in at your destination? Edit: On second thought if you're spending launch loop kind of money maybe building a 10 mile bridge out to the station isn't that big of a cost?
- simonh 13y agoFrom what he's said publicly, I don't see how it can be a launch loop or anything much like it.
- tocomment 13y agoFrom the last discussion [1] I thought launch loop was our best guess? How does a launch loop conflict with anything he's said publicly? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5796880 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5796880
- simonh 13y agoHe's said that any loss of power or stability would result in a safe failure mode. I can't see how that fits in with a thousand kilometre long looping supersonic cable in the sky.
- mtgx 13y agoHe gets like that sometimes, and you can see he really cares about the products he's making and the change he's trying to make in the world. So sometimes he seems deeply affected that others are so much against him, especially when they aren't playing fair. He became a bit emotional in another interview where he said that Neil Armstrong was opposed to the idea of having SpaceX making commercial rockets (or any other private company), and that Neil Armstrong was a hero of his before, and he was very disappointed seeing Neil fight against SpaceX. You can see at 0:40, but I'm not sure it was all of it (from that part). It was on the 60 Minutes interview. http://www.space.com/14936-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-60-minutes-interview.html http://www.space.com/14936-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-60-minutes-i...
- qwanzi77 13y ago"he seems deeply affected that others are so much against him, especially when they aren't playing fair" How exactly is Tesla playing fair? Did all car manufacturers receive a $500 million loan to build electric cars or something?
- codeulike 13y agoAny of them could have, if they'd got their act together
- trevmckendrick 13y agoHe's a great salesman. You don't even realize you're being sold.
- jlgreco 13y agoIs he selling me rockets too? I only wish I could be in the market for one.
- luke_s 13y agoI remember hearing a quote somewhere about Elon Musk. To paraphrase: Make sure you don't have any money in your pockets when you meet him, because by the end of the meeting you will have given it to him. But seriously, I think 'being sold' has somewhat of a negative connotation - it implies that Elon is putting on an act to try and convince you buy something you otherwise might not. I think what Elon in fact does is just present a vision that he very much believes in and can make happen. I think that is why is is so effective - he is not trying to 'sell'. Hes just talking about what he believes in.
- l33tbro 13y agoDisagree. This guy seems pretty legit and humble. Calculating and shrewd? Sure, I give him that: a vision like Tesla and Space X would require such characteristics. That said, I take him on face value and love how his vision comes from such a genuine place of logic and reason (as opposed to the Jobsian hoopla bullcrap). A singular figure.
- sgt 13y agoSomehow this seems a bit wrong though - to open this link, skip to minute 53, simply to "see an emotional moment", then close the browser.
- tome 13y agoYou can watch other parts of the video if you like!
- rpwverheij 13y agoAgreed. Question he's answering starts at minute 49!
- andyn 13y agoHeadlines with "Emotional" and "So Eloquent" are the new "L@@K! Must See!"
- judofyr 13y agoOriginal title: "Minute 53, very emotional moment by Elon Musk" (In case a mod comes and renames this story)
- olalonde 13y agoI had no idea there was actually a written law that prevented auto manufacturers to sell directly to consumers. What is this law supposed to achieve exactly?
- rubinelli 13y agoOfficially, to make sure customers have a dealership close by where they can have their cars properly serviced without delays or long trips. In practice, to protect dealers with fat margins and terrible commercial practices.
- zalew 13y agodealers have fat margins in the US? I'd be suprised. around here they are capped by the manufacturers and raised only after achieving goals that are impossible for newcommers to meet. the money is made on service, without that you'd basically sink cash into a very expensive gallery. setting up a dealership is tough, very expensive and very risky.
- pavs 13y agoThis is now, I think the law itself is quite old. There was a time when dealership was very very profitable business.
- zerohm 13y agoI'm pretty sure licensed dealerships barely break even on new car sales. They make their money on maintenance and used car sales.
- fduran 13y agoFrom what I remember from a few years ago (quotation needed or the loan part may have changed), they make a few hundred dollars on new cars, bigger margins on second hand cars and about 40-50% of their income from car loans.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- thoughtcriminal 13y agoFlagged. I think you Elon groupies need to go outside for some fresh air.
- confluence 13y agoHe does that. Musk almost lost it in his 60 minutes interview when asked why Neil Armstrong (a hero of his) was actively against what both he and SpaceX stood for. Personally, if I were told on national TV that my personal hero hated what I was doing, I'd be pretty negatively affected as well.
- csomar 13y agoThe point Elon is raising is important. Dealerships (or middlemen) that we can exist without are lowering our $ purchase power. Sure, it's a small amount. But think about it in the long run, and at larger scales. It just happens that Elon faced this problem now. That's why he's speaking, and it's good that's he's willing to fight them. There is lot of sh*t going around. Like government not doing their job. It's time people are aware of their rights and speak out. It's these tiny wins that are going to make the change in the future.
- dhx 13y agoAround minute 25 there appears to be a very awkward waiting-for-the-Steve-Jobs-applause moment after Elon explains the updated navigation system. A few more announcements are made without applause and then finally, just before the 31 minute mark, applause is finally handed out when the launch date of the Model X is announced. I hope Elon didn't feel disappointed with himself or the audience. Applause is cheap. The questions that followed demonstrated audience buy-in more than any amount of applause could ever achieve.
- Mikeb85 13y agoSome of the comments here amaze me. Many (most?) countries have business development banks, that give out loans to entrepreneurs... It's confusing why a loan given to a start-up car company is such a scandal. Those who understand capitalism know that entrepreneurship is the main driving force behind economic growth, as well as innovation, job creation, and most other positives that capitalism brings...
- loup-vaillant 13y ago> If Democracy was working properly, and the legislators were implementing the will of the people, something else would be happening. This time, this ain't coming from Noam Chomnsky.