Tesla Drops 'Motors' From Name As CEO Musk Looks Beyond Cars (reuters.com)

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Tesla Drops 'Motors' From Name As CEO Musk Looks Beyond Cars (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on Wednesday February 1, 2017 @06:40AM from the what's-in-a-name dept.

Tesla Motors changed its name to "Tesla Inc" as Chief Executive Elon Musk looks to transform the Silicon Valley firm from an electric car maker to a diversified energy products company. From a report on Reuters: In October, Musk unveiled solar-powered roof tiles that eliminate the need for traditional panels and a longer-lasting home battery illustrating the benefits of combining his electric car and battery maker with solar installer SolarCity Corp.

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Seven years. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:43 · Score: -1, Flamebait

It's been seven years since Tesla has gone public. And almost as long since it has shipped product.
No profit - except for the quarter of some accounting tricks. None.
Ford - started by an actual brilliant engineer and entrepreneur was profitable in its FIRST QUARTER of doing business.
Tesla has lot of potential but it's management is incompetent.
Musk is an incompetent CEO and must step aside for Tesla to survive.
1. Re: Seven years. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:09 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Ford - started by an actual brilliant engineer and entrepreneur was profitable in its FIRST QUARTER of doing business.
  Henry Ford's first company, the Detroit Automobile Company effectively failed, having to be re-organised into the Henry Ford Company. Henry Ford left that company, to eventually found Ford Motor Company, and the Henry Ford Company became Cadillac.
  The Ford Motor Company had problems paying the Dodge brothers, and had to get additional finances and offer stock to their debtors, before recovering enough to pay out dividends.
  BTW, check out Dodge v. FORD.
2. Re:Seven years. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:22 · Score: 0
  
  Really they have not shipped a car for 7 years? Jeebus all those teslas I see driving around must be old as hell.
  Or in reality you are one of those Alternative Facts drooling morons..
  I'm betting heavily on the latter.
  Fucking idiot.
3. Re:Seven years. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:37 · Score: 0
  
  You've convinced me! Please report to Gigafactory to take control of operations.
  Sincerely,
  no one ever
4. Re:Seven years. by spire3661 · 2017-02-01 07:40 · Score: 1
  
  SpaceX says 'LOL'.
  
  --
  Good-bye
5. Re:Seven years. by fgouget · 2017-02-01 10:38 · Score: 1
  
  It's been seven years since Tesla has gone public. And almost as long since it has shipped product.
  No profit - except for the quarter of some accounting tricks. None.
  Which only makes sense. Tesla needs to grow fast to profit from their first-mover advantage and achieve a scale that lets them compete with other car manufacturers on a more equal footing. That means taking risks (yes, they may still fail) and investing as much of their income as possible to fuel that growth, profits be damned. But that's okay because it's not like anyone would be dumb enough to invest in a fledgling manufacturing company in a field dominated by giants expecting it to play it safe and immediately serve fat dividends.
  
  Ford - started by an actual brilliant engineer and entrepreneur was profitable in its FIRST QUARTER of doing business.
  Yeah. Not only have times changed in a century, but Tesla's competitors have had 100 years to prepare and put up barriers against new entrants! Who could have guessed?
  
  Musk is an incompetent CEO and must step aside for Tesla to survive.
  So if you were Tesla's CEO you'd cripple its growth so as to give enough time for its competitors to catch up and then run Tesla into the ground through a price war? It's a good thing you're not in command then.
6. Re:Seven years. by thegarbz · 2017-02-01 11:04 · Score: 1
  
  Ford - started by an actual brilliant engineer
  I hope you don't mean Henry Ford, the apprentice machinist / steam engine operator with no engineering background or training at all.
  It can be claimed that Ford was an incredible businessman even if the did have some false starts that you don't seem to know about. However an engineer he was not. That first car he built and raced? Designed by Childe Willis, a mechanical engineer. Willis also had a big hand in the design of the Model T.
Makes sense by kelemvor4 · 2017-02-01 06:44 · Score: 3, Interesting

But why not just create an umbrella that owns Tesla Motors as a subsidiary?
1. Re:Makes sense by donaggie03 · 2017-02-01 07:16 · Score: 1
  
  Because then it would be harder to shuffle money around.
  
  --
  Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
2. Re:Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:22 · Score: 0
  
  An umbrella corp would make sense. Tesla seems like the kind of company that would become a major international player in a number of markets. I mean, if Musk gets the flu then they'll start working on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Who knows what kind of work they're already doing in secret, but publicly they're already doing well in the consumer products market.
  Oh wait.
3. Re:Makes sense by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:23 · Score: 0
  
  Well, when Tesla merged with Solar City, the combined valuation of the new company was less than its parts. That's why. Musk was just trying to save Solar City. But it is his shareholders who got screwed. You got upmodded?
4. Re:Makes sense by Black.Shuck · 2017-02-01 07:29 · Score: 1
  
  But why not just create an umbrella that owns Tesla Motors as a subsidiary?
  Umbrellas are so 2016.
  What Tesla needs is a bodega company that can cover multiple umbrella organisations at once, one of which would actually cover Tesla Motors, itself donning a pac-a-mac for extra weatherproofing capability.
5. Re:Makes sense by LordHighExecutioner · 2017-02-01 07:37 · Score: 1
  
  They probably have bigger plans. Since they dropped "Motors" from the company name, maybe that Elon Musk is actually going to start umbrella production...
6. Re:Makes sense by DontBeAMoran · 2017-02-01 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  When Apple dropped "computers" from their name, they started doing everything except computers.
  
  --
  #DeleteFacebook
7. Re:Makes sense by OrangeTide · 2017-02-01 09:29 · Score: 1
  
  What Tesla needs is a bodega company that can cover multiple umbrella organisations at once, one of which would actually cover Tesla Motors, itself donning a pac-a-mac for extra weatherproofing capability.
  So like Samsung, Hitachi and other multinational conglomerates.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
8. Re:Makes sense by Gravis+Zero · 2017-02-01 10:40 · Score: 1
  
  But why not just create an umbrella that owns Tesla Motors as a subsidiary?
  That's a great idea and name! I can't wait for Elon to tell us about all the great cool things the Umbrella Corporation is going to do for us. I'm looking forward to their bio-engineering projects! :)
  
  --
  Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
And in another few years by The-Ixian · 2017-02-01 06:46 · Score: 1

In another few years the name will change again to Nikola Tesla and the appropriation will be complete...

--
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
1. Re:And in another few years by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:02 · Score: 1
  
  I will know. Whenever I read or see the history of that poor motherfucker, I get real pissed.
  George Westinghouse fucked him and now Musk is fucking his name,
2. Re:And in another few years by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:38 · Score: 0
  
  Einstein was a dog in Back to the Future!
I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:53 · Score: 0

Is the Tesla 3.0 rebooted? This idiot is trying to run a car company and compete with BMW and Toyota by the seat of his pants. Tesla doesn't end well.
1. Re: I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:56 · Score: 0
  
  But can BMW autopilot you to Mars in a Tesla Model SpaceX?
2. Re:I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:57 · Score: -1
  
  Shareholders are even less thrilled that Musk seems to be making Tesla into "Trump Motors".
3. Re: I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:49 · Score: 0
  
  No, but can Tesla?
4. Re:I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:30 · Score: 1
  
  as an owner of a Tesla (and as an owner of a bit of Tesla stock), i am completely and totally thrilled, like almost all other Tesla owners.
  http://www.autonews.com/articl...
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
5. Re: I am sure his shareholders are thrilled by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:32 · Score: 1
  
  sort of ....
  http://www.teslarati.com/elon-...
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
they need to drop Tesla from the name by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:54 · Score: 0

What they are doing is gratuitous abuse of a name that belongs to history. They have nothing to do with Nikola Tesla just blatantly stealing the name. /rant
1. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by Oswald+McWeany · 2017-02-01 07:02 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Tesla doesn't have any descendants, to complain about it.
  I think it is a wonderful homage to Tesla rather than a gratuitous use of his name. Newton's name has been invoked by companies. Faraday's name has been used.
  The names are homages to the great scientists. I don't think anyone thinks Nikola Tesla founded the car company- or that Sir Isaac Newton worked with JSON or that Faraday's future was to create over ambitious cars that no one wanted to buy.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
2. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by donaggie03 · 2017-02-01 07:18 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  But Newton did make those cookies right?
  
  --
  Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
3. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by chuckugly · 2017-02-01 07:43 · Score: 1
  
  No, but he loved figs, so there's that.
4. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by elgatozorbas · 2017-02-01 08:41 · Score: 1
  
  Also, who -apart from engineers and physicists- knows Tesla? I would think more people know about the electrical cars than about the inventor.
5. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:25 · Score: 0
  
  The battery factory should've been opened in the birth country of Tesla, not in USA. That would be a great homage to a genius.
6. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:54 · Score: 0
  
  Faraday's name has been used.
  That's were I always buy my cages.
7. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 17:41 · Score: 0
  
  easier to swallow than that pesky tablet!
8. Re:they need to drop Tesla from the name by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:36 · Score: 1
  
  wow you are out of touch. every idiot on the internet knows nikola tesla, he is very trendy and has been for years. to the point where Diane Rehm on NPR a couple years back did a show where her guest wrote a biography about Edison ... and every. single. call. was a hipster calling in to whine about how badly Edison screwed Tesla, and how amazing Tesla was, and what a jerk Edison was.
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:55 · Score: 0, Interesting

There is no cost justification for them in this post-fracking world. $2 gas is the new norm and prices will only go down from here thanks to Trump and the new EPA. Tough break for those who bought the hype.
Frack, baby, frack. Break OPEC's back.
1. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:23 · Score: 1
  
  Because who cares if fracking makes water undrinkable for MILES around?
  Who cares if fracking is linked to earthquakes in regions that have never experienced them before?
  No, let's just lube up giant cracks in the ground and pretend everything will be fine.
2. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:23 · Score: 0
  
  This derp brought to you by a Trump supporter. Empowering the Low IQ crowd since 2017.
3. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:26 · Score: 0
  
  Someone's been reading the fake news again. Good thing the adults are in charge again, snowflake.
4. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:42 · Score: 0
  
  If the red states wanna destroy their own environment, best of luck. Not that any of the people making the money from fracking will stick around to endure the after-effects. Enjoy.
5. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:04 · Score: 0
  
  Blows my mind when left leaning people talk about IQ or alternative facts. The fact is that people of Asian ethnicity have an average IQ of 108 and people of African ethnicity are just above mental disability at 83. The left simultaneously state that IQ is important but those facts on specific numbers are wrong even though they have remained after 30 years of isolating for culture, education, language, upbringing, and wealth. After all that they now are ineptly spewing vitriol about alternative facts. A political stance of projection. How absurd a movement progressivism is.
6. Re: Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:19 · Score: 0
  
  If you think $2 oil will last in the Trump presidency, I have some tar sands in the Florida swamps to sell you.
7. Re:Electric cars are dying by hipp5 · 2017-02-01 15:04 · Score: 1
  
  Electric cars are dying
  Electric cars are quickly getting to the point where it's not about the cost of fuel. They're better to drive, and very low maintenance.
8. Re:Electric cars are dying by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 17:36 · Score: 0
  
  They're worse to drive, and have the worst reliability of any car on the market.
  Fixed that for you.
9. Re:Electric cars are dying by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:38 · Score: 1
  
  dying, hahaha. Tesla sales have doubled every year. you can't turn back time just by wishing for it, you ignorant troglodyte.
  PS actually test drive a tesla and it will shut your stupid ass up, it's an amazing car.
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
10. Re:Electric cars are dying by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:40 · Score: 1
  
  heyo right-wing racism? SHOCKER.
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
11. Re:Electric cars are dying by pezpunk · 2017-02-01 18:41 · Score: 1
  
  (okay, increased 50% every year)
  
  --
  i could live a little longer in this prison
Mod parent RACIST! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:55 · Score: -1

msmash, We need a Racist moderation. Please install this as another option on Slashdot. Discrimination against Mr. Musk is unacceptable
1. Re:Mod parent RACIST! by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:08 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  im not sure where the fuck you get off
  elon musk invented paying for things on the internet
  to do this he first had to invent paying for things then invented internet
  on a cocktail napkin he determined things move faster in vacuums
  thats not the kind of thing every student picks up in high school physics my man
  he had to draw a whole tube then a little choochoo in the tube then explain it to the retarted girl he was drinking with
  now youre up his ass because he has invented alternative accounting and alternative profitability
The cost of gas would be even less... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:58 · Score: 1

If the leftist lunatics didn't tax the bejesus out of it.
1. Re: The cost of gas would be even less... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:39 · Score: 0
  
  Current gas taxes in the US is averaging about 50 cents a gallon, and isn't enough to pay for all the current road and transportation work in numerous states.
  How much debt do you want, or do you prefer not being able to drive your car?
2. Re: The cost of gas would be even less... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 07:43 · Score: 0
  
  Current gas taxes in the US is averaging about 50 cents not much a gallon
  Fixed that for you.
3. Re:The cost of gas would be even less... by squiggleslash · 2017-02-01 08:29 · Score: 2
  
  The Highway Fund has been insolvent for decades, and you want to reduce gas taxes?
  
  --
  You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Translation by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 06:58 · Score: 2, Interesting

We failed as a car company.
1. Re:Translation by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:47 · Score: 1
  
  It's easier to talk about other people's failure than your own. Succeeding does not come from typing on slashdot.
That's so 10 years ago by Cyphase · 2017-02-01 07:38 · Score: 1

Remember Apple Computer?

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by Cyphase ( 907627 )
F*ck the oil corporations by coastwalker · 2017-02-01 07:45 · Score: 1, Troll

Tesla has taken on the establishment with its electric cars and is still around despite the opposition. Lets hope for humanities sake they succeed despite president c*unt.

--
Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
Great by DontBeAMoran · 2017-02-01 07:48 · Score: 3, Interesting

Now, how about a Tesla electric bicycle? At the very least, they have a chance to push a new standard for battery packs and chargers with their new 2170 batteries. Electric tools, bicycles, motorcycles... If everything used a single standard pack (with all dimensions and specifications made public domain) it would make it very easy for DIY users.

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#DeleteFacebook
Knowing Musk he is into airplanes now.... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · 2017-02-01 07:55 · Score: 4, Interesting

Amazon needs a whole department to think up castles in the sky, ahem sorry, warehouses in the sky, projects.
Musk beats them all single handedly. Expecting an announcement for a battery powered personal aircraft. "A souped up drone most likely. 120 miles range, 20 minutes to recharge. Just 50K USD. But before we ship that we will introduce a luxury version to pay for the factory and to amortize the R&D. 10 mile range, 12 hours to recharge, 1.2 million dollars. The model-3 will ship for 50K in 2045. Luxury plane in 2024"
Original Tesla too had very good ability to persuade people to give him money for grand projects. It is uncanny.

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sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
1. Re:Knowing Musk he is into airplanes now.... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:01 · Score: 0
  
  Original Tesla too had very good ability to persuade people to give him money for grand projects failed in the end. It is uncanny.
  Fixed that for you.
2. Re:Knowing Musk he is into airplanes now.... by mmell · 2017-02-01 08:26 · Score: 1
  
  Yet despite those failures (many of which were attributable to Tesla's lack of business sense, not a lack of genius), much of Mr. Tesla's research and innovation is still relevant and meaningful today. His name is remembered in history books, and the science he pioneered continues to be of great importance. Even more remarkable is the degree to which Tesla advanced our understanding of one of the fundamental forces which control our Universe.
  Mind you, I think that Musk is a kook, a total loon - but then again, a lot of people thought that about Tesla back in his day.
3. Re:Knowing Musk he is into airplanes now.... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 08:47 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, go back to your bathtub to play with your little toy RC boat. In the meantime, Tesla could do that in 1898...
The name change is interesting and appropriate. by mmell · 2017-02-01 08:18 · Score: 2

Consider that the most notable research advancements from this organization have dealt primarily with energy storage (battery) technology. I'm sure I'm not the only one to realize the vast number of non-automotive applications such devices might be suited for. Security robots come screaming to mind, although I can think of several other intriguing possibilities as well. Anywhere it would be reasonable to operate a powered device over a long period of time without needing a physical power feed (e.g., an extension cord) could well be a beneficiary of the battery research performed by Tesla (Motors).
A Miracle by JimSadler · 2017-02-01 09:04 · Score: 4, Insightful

Every now and then a person is born who will make a positive and drastic change for all of us. Mr. Musk is obviously one such man and we had better be grateful we have him as so very few are born.
Gasoline is worth more than $10 gallon by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:23 · Score: 0

At the height of the oil price peak, oil cost $10 per gallon in Turkey, after taxes. The easiest answer is smaller cars for the poor, Prii for the middle class, electric taxis, and Uber SUVs. I predict most new car sales will be fossil fuel 30 years from now. There are better places to get rid of fossil fuels before cars for the average person.
Replacing alternate facts with factual facts by OrangeTide · 2017-02-01 09:27 · Score: 1

Tesla Roaster - shipped 2006
Tesla Model S - shipped 2012
Tesla Model X - shipped 2015
Tesla Model 3 - eta late 2017
PS - (2017 - 2015) 7 years.

--
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Translation by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 09:41 · Score: 0

"This whole build-cars-and-rock-Detroit-and-Japan thing ain't working so hot. We gotta find other ways to multiply Musk's fortune...."
Remember when Apple dropped computers by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 10:23 · Score: 1

I think many feel Tesla will never be a large volume car company. I have my doubts that if they did reach a milestone of something over 10,000 vehicles a month they couldn't deal with it. When Apple dropped computer from Apple name it decided that Mac's were never going to be the cash cow they thought they would be. We now know Apple as a phone maker. Almost all their focus and market accessories is for the iPhone. Tesla most likely will focus on licensing technology, battery systems, and develop new markets for technology. The car business is too competitive to succeed.
oh great by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-01 12:59 · Score: 0

if you have ever worked with tesla you know that the arrogance is oppressive while their ignorance is frustrating, as they demand you do a task, but wont ever tell you what it is cause they
have no fucking clue
refuse to talk on the phone
answer emails, or even acknowledge them
or consider advice from anyone that might be trying to help in the slightest
I dread these assholes invading other industries as they behave as if because they are doing something (slightly) different, the invented the entire god damn thing
will all the Tesla fanbois apologize now? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-02-02 05:51 · Score: 0

because every f'n time anyone dares declare that Musk, thru Tesla, is more about "proving the next new idea" than sitting in "commodity production hell" gets burned by the fanbois who declare Tesla will always be saving the world with electric cars and will make nothing but Model (whatevers) forever and ever.
The smart money has ALWAYS been, once Musk "proved" a proper no compromise EV could be produced, he was going to move on to something else. The Model 3 is the *nightmare* scenario. Boring day in-day-out production on a hopefully large scale, and the necessary customer service and interaction with the "average car buyer" was never Musk's "thing".
Now it's official. and all those narrow minded Tesla Motors fans who insulted, disregarded and ignored me and others, can suck it.
Now the real question: what's "next"? Residential or large scale solar installation with battery? neat but not sure that's "next enough... maybe orbital solar platforms? Tesla funded fusion research?