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http://www.autonews.com/article/20160721/OEM05/160729955/musks-new-tesla-master-plan-comes-with-big-price-tag
https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:TSLA&fstype=ii&ei=xU2SV_nXKYW4mAGwhYi4CQ
Those PT convertibles never made sense to me, since they don't portray the retro look well, and they certainly aren't sporty. They're just weird, in my opinion.
The point I'm driving at here (heh, heh) is that a Tesla is still, for most buyers living in areas with any kind of winter, a 2nd car.
Look at, for instance, all the engineering genius that went into Chrysler's turbine car.
The three major German automakers will introduce many new EVs, but they appear to be 2-3 years behind Tesla in their efforts. I don't think that lag time will matter much in the long run because while EVs will remain a niche market for some time, albeit a growing one, the German (and American and Asian) carmakers have powertrain diversification. Tesla , on the other hand, is betting all its marbles on EVs.
That said, Tesla has been a wake up call for the world's automakers.
The Porsche Mission E is an obvious rival to Tesla Motors Inc’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S, as well as other electric vehicles. It will be lighter than the Model S and will be sporting an electric engine with more than 600 horsepower.
http://investorplace.com/2016/07/porsche-tesla-mission-e/#.V5fzEbgrKhc
Not any more, though.
This could be a shrewd move since there's a lot of noise about big rig pollution in metro areas. And a lot of noise-noise, literally.
While Volvo won't roll out all of these features in its first self-driving car, Coelingh said none of the things included in Concept 26 are that far-fetched.
"These are really simple things. Things like getting more space by moving the seat backwards, moving the steering wheel in, you can do all of these things with little effort," Coelingh said.
"Concept 26 is pretty realistic in what you can do. It’s not like you have a swiveling chair or putting in a dining table. It’s still a car interior, but it provides you with a little bit extra."
Volvo is quietly becoming a tech superpower (businessinsider.com)
Lots of hype going into autonomous driving.
Volvo will build its first car plant in the U.S., hoping to reverse a decline in sales in the world's second biggest auto market.
The Chinese-owned car maker said Monday it would invest $500 million to build the plant.
Volvo (VOLVY) sold nearly half a million cars in 100 countries last year, up 8.9% compared to 2013. That growth was driven by strong sales in China and Europe.
But U.S. sales fell 8% last year to 56,000. That's less than half the volume Volvo sold in the U.S. just a decade ago.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/30/news/companies/volvo-new-factory-u-s-/
So, really, not doing too badly.
The next question is which state will sell out their citizens giving massive tax breaks to the
SwedesChinese.Impressive, but not for the timid, price-wise. $134,000 and up.
So essentially, compared to the current 200-mile S at around $75K, you're going to pony up another $60,000 to get another 115 miles of range.
Tesla has met my first prediction for the "first mass market EV", which was a 300 mile range. The second part of my prediction years ago was that it had to sell in the $30,000 range---which is more or less the average cost of a new car today.
Exactly the vehicle that deserves massive tax breaks, and also the customer demographic who deserves them. Such good policy.
In terms of the history of technology, Tesla might have a more credible place.
While the P100D Ludicrous is obviously an expensive vehicle, we want to emphasize that every sale helps pay for the smaller and much more affordable Tesla Model 3 that is in development. Without customers willing to buy the expensive Model S and X, we would be unable to fund the smaller, more affordable Model 3 development.
http://jalopnik.com/the-new-tesla-p100d-is-the-fastest-tesla-ever-1785657995?rev=1471981077334&utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160905/OEM05/309059949/tesla-envy-grips-germanys-giants
I'm more optimistic regarding other major automakers' EV prospects vs. Tesla than this article suggests because I believe it underestimates the resources and creativity of the German and other leading automakers. They're not the old GM. They get it and are acting aggressively on the challenges.
Your take?
The tax breaks need to end yesterday.
Regardless, the competition for EVs is likely to become fierce in the coming years, at a time when Tesla is quickly burning through money. Musk will not be able to attract new investments at the favorable terms of the past if the stock price keeps declining.
I agree with you regarding the tax breaks. I don't think taxpayers should be forced to subsidize EVs, and certainly not the luxury ones.
Elon's ace up his sleeve is the battery factory. If that pans out he's golden (again).
The bandwagon that has developed since the S is the change in the game. Wannabe-stylish expensive EVs will likely be a fad that exists for over-monied psuedo tech dorks with appliances that blink 12:00 will probably be a market segment for some time.
If I'm not mistaken Canada's tax code doesn't permit mortgage tax deductions. Yet, from what I've read, the rate of home ownership in Canada is similar to or greater than in the U.S.
Yes, the gigafactory could give Tesla a potential competitive advantage...if the company can keep raising new capital.
Who will supply all the batteries required by the other automakers? Maybe Tesla will supply some of them, since Musk has announced plans to build other gigafactories, in China and elsewhere. Would the Detroit 3, European and Asian automakers be okay with purchasing battery packs from a Silicon Valley competitor? I haven't read much about the other automakers' battery procurement plans, only that they plan to roll out many new EV models.
Could battery procurement be the achilles heal for the world's automakers?
The Apple tax brouhaha in Ireland is interesting. If we had EU rules here, then Elon may have built his factory where it would have made economic sense and that may have been somewhere besides Nevada. The tax breaks given by Nevada changed the balance sheet equation a whole bunch.
Mercedes is building a giant battery factory too. In Germany iirc. No idea on incentives given to them (maybe none, per EU rules).
If that's true, the fact that a battery manufacturer also gains a strategic advantage makes the case for new battery factories compelling.
Now if they can make a true breakthrough in batteries, that would make the Tesla look like chump change.
The short answer is that start-ups can't do this, and so progress, when it happens, will be somewhat glacial in speed.
A "breaththrough"? Not likely given the economic barriers and the long string of failures. More like evolution, not revolution IMO.
Tax credits are purely corporate welfare and make the inequality in this country worse.