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Tesla To Produce 'a Few Million' Electric Cars a Year By 2025
HughPickens.com writes: Reuters reports that Elon Musk, speaking at an industry conference in Detroit, said Tesla may not be profitable until 2020 but that Tesla plans to boost production of electric cars to "at least a few million a year" by 2025. Musk told attendees at the Automotive News World Congress that "we could make money now if we weren't investing" in new technology and vehicles such as the Model 3 and expanded retail networks.
Musk does not see the Chevrolet Bolt as a potential competitor to the Model 3. "It's not going to affect us if someone builds a few hundred thousand vehicles," said Musk. "I'd be pleased to see other manufacturers make electric cars." On another topic, Musk said he was open to partnerships with retailers to sell Tesla vehicles, but not until after the company no longer has production bottlenecks. "Before considering taking on franchised dealers, we also have to establish (more of) our own stores," said Musk adding that "we will consider" franchising "if we find the right partner." Musk did not elaborate, but said Tesla "is not actively seeking any partnerships" with other manufacturers "because our focus is so heavily on improving our production" in Fremont. Last year, Tesla delivered about 33,000 Model S sedans and said the current wait for delivery is one to four months. Tesla has already presold every Model S that it plans to build in 2015. "If you ordered a car today, you wouldn't get it until 2016."
Musk does not see the Chevrolet Bolt as a potential competitor to the Model 3. "It's not going to affect us if someone builds a few hundred thousand vehicles," said Musk. "I'd be pleased to see other manufacturers make electric cars." On another topic, Musk said he was open to partnerships with retailers to sell Tesla vehicles, but not until after the company no longer has production bottlenecks. "Before considering taking on franchised dealers, we also have to establish (more of) our own stores," said Musk adding that "we will consider" franchising "if we find the right partner." Musk did not elaborate, but said Tesla "is not actively seeking any partnerships" with other manufacturers "because our focus is so heavily on improving our production" in Fremont. Last year, Tesla delivered about 33,000 Model S sedans and said the current wait for delivery is one to four months. Tesla has already presold every Model S that it plans to build in 2015. "If you ordered a car today, you wouldn't get it until 2016."
It's a typo. The wait for a model S is 1-4 months. The model X is sold out for 2015.
It should read that the Model X (SUV.. not yet available) presales have been exceeded for 2015 and future purchases wont be fulfilled until 2016. The Model S (Sedan) is the model with the 1-4 month wait time.
Chewie does not get a medal. Come on, George. Can a Wookie get a medal?
You proceed from a false assumption.
The Tesla factory fronts the 880 Freeway in Fremont on the east side of the San Francisco Bay. Instead of building a brand-new factory, Tesla purchased the old Nummi factory that had been producing GM and Toyota vehicles since 1984 before closing in 2010. Tesla paid only $42 million for the plant, which sits on 380 acres and was originally constructed in 1962.
The Nummi factory is already big enough to build half a million vehicles a year. They've been expanding lines for the last year to accommodate larger production volumes.
Tesla is constrained now only by battery availability and cost which should go down as the gigafactorys three phases come on line.
It's a $7500 tax credit. Same for all electrics, including the Leaf. It's only good for the first 200,000 cars sold (unless it gets renewed).
Comparing Telsa with Delorean is not valid.
The company failed because the high expectations and desires of the founder John DeLorean did not match the realities of the level of manufacturing technology and market demand of the late 70's and early 80's. The car was also an under performing over priced piece of junk. The only unique aspect of the car was the gull wing doors and stainless steel skin, everything else was a technological compromise that resulted in lack luster car.
Tesla actually makes decent vehicles.
Chevy just introduced a concept car called the Bolt. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/...
The problem is not haggling, it is the secrecy.
Before Christmas I walked into my local Firestone franchise and wanted to get 2 new tires. They quoted me $140 a pice. When I said that I could get the same tires for $100 up the street at Costco (but I also needed a front end alignment which Costco doesn't do), suddenly their price was $100. Then the next day when I came in to get the tires changed*, the cost was actually $80 a piece. It's that sort of secret, we won't tell you the true price crap that I hate. Combined with all sorts of attempts to up-sell, and add-on services that I said 3 times already that I don't need.
* What stunned me was that I had 2 good tires and 2 bad tires. Somehow they manage to replace the good ties with the new tires and left the bad tires on the car.
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