Is Tesla just months away from a total collapse?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
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From: ------
CR:
https://www.consumerreports.org/hybr...ecommendation/
I really did expect more from car mags on cheapening of controls to the point that 98% of things require going to the big touch monitor with tiny controls. Most reviewers actually reviewed it as novelty, as if it is not a real car so such things do not matter. But sure, real mags like CD and CR did mention it finally, together with poor braking which is surprising.
We also heard about poor quality control from the owners and investing mags but up until now tech blogs that got first access did not treat these seriously buying the line how these are beta cars... however poor quality control, big panel gaps and all the other issues can not be fixed with software update.
https://www.consumerreports.org/hybr...ecommendation/
I really did expect more from car mags on cheapening of controls to the point that 98% of things require going to the big touch monitor with tiny controls. Most reviewers actually reviewed it as novelty, as if it is not a real car so such things do not matter. But sure, real mags like CD and CR did mention it finally, together with poor braking which is surprising.
We also heard about poor quality control from the owners and investing mags but up until now tech blogs that got first access did not treat these seriously buying the line how these are beta cars... however poor quality control, big panel gaps and all the other issues can not be fixed with software update.
https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-...pril-2018.html
https://www.autoblog.com/2018/05/21/...ports-edmunds/
https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-...uary-2018.html
https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-...arch-2018.html
"Technology is supposed to make things easier, right? Right? That is so NOT the case with the Tesla Model 3. Simple things are hard to figure out at first glance. I've complained about this issue in our Model X before. I want to change the radio station. On the screen all I get are icons of the preset radio stations, some of them have the actual radio station dial numbers and others are just tiny thumbnails of bands (?).
Forget that this is a "cutting-edge" EV with a cult following. That's irrelevant if Tesla wants to be anything more than a footnote in automotive history. Our Model 3 cost us $56,000, and by that standard alone, the ownership experience so far has been unacceptable. But this is no ordinary $56K car. We put down a $1,000 deposit to get on a two-year waiting list for this car and it's falling apart.
• The car will not shift into Drive or Reverse upon startup. "Vehicle Systems Are Powering Up. Shift Into D or R After Message Clears." Have to wait for it to power up. A loud click comes from the rear of the car as if a drive shaft is engaging and the message on the screen goes away.
• The car displays a new message: "Cannot Maintain Vehicle Power. Car May Stop Driving or Shut Down." No shutdowns yet, but keeping an eye out.
• With 170 miles of range, the car displays a "Regenerative Braking Limited" message. Plenty of available space to store regen power. Logged the issue, then reset the screen with a reboot. The message has not displayed since.
• While the car was parked, the passenger sun visor was left down and the mirror fell out. Pressed back into place. Hoping it won't fall out again. Based on many issues we had early in the month, we took the Model 3 in for service. The most annoying of those issues was a repeated, uncontrollable increase in stereo volume, sometimes when we weren't even in the car. Basically, the stereo would suddenly go to full volume without explanation. This and other issues are cataloged from our notes below:• Would not recognize keycard in or on the console and hence would not go into gear. It did, however, unlock the car. Workaround was to force quit the app and restart the app. Then it would allow the choice of Drive or Reverse.
• The backup camera screen did not appear when reversing.
• Nav screen going haywire: zooming, scrolling, pinching, pixelating all at once.
• Audio system turning on by itself at full volume.
• Audio display randomly moving up and down the screen without any command from a human.
• Audio system came on and went to full volume all by itself while the car was off, locked and unoccupied. I heard it from 100 yards away. "Who is that joker playing his stereo so loud I can hear it from here?" Oh, it's Elon. I turned it down, but it kept wavering up and down as I started driving, working against my repeated attempts to dial it down. Then it blasted all the way to maximum. My ears are still ringing two hours later. Fixed after reboot. Not sure about hearing damage.
• Audio page leaping up and down rapidly like the up-caret button to expand the source menu was being played with by a kid who ate too much candy. Concurrent with the volume problem above. Same reboot.
• Icons on the map screen flickering.
• The passenger vanity mirror fell off completely. Installed and held on only by double-sided tape. Reinstalled by pressing really hard on the mirror.
Gotta love this modern technology. Can't wait for Tesla to show automakers the way and why we need electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and big touchscreens to operate just about all functions in a vehicle.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
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so obviously tesla knows of this issue...
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,472
Likes: 252
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I considered raising this (hypothetical) question with a new thread, but, looking at the number of Tesla-related threads we already have going in Car Chat, decided to attach it here instead. I haven't seen this question discussed here or anywhere else in the business world (maybe it has been, but I just didn't see it)...but what do you all think the possibility is of Elon Musk running to Washington for a Federal bailout? Considering the previous bailouts that were given to Lockheed, Chrysler, GM, AIG, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and a number of other companies, seems to me like Musk will be under at least some temptation to go to Congress with his hand out. Congress might ultimately say no, but you're liable to hear at least some arguments that Tesla, even if it is not a very large auto company by industry-standards, is too big to fail, and will hurt the economy too much if it does.
IMO Trump's reaction, in particular, to a loan-request, might be interesting to hear, since he himself was an entrepreneur like Musk, and built a huge empire in real-estate.
IMO Trump's reaction, in particular, to a loan-request, might be interesting to hear, since he himself was an entrepreneur like Musk, and built a huge empire in real-estate.
Last edited by mmarshall; May 22, 2018 at 05:48 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 31
From: Canada
I considered raising this (hypothetical) question with a new thread, but, looking at the number of Tesla-related threads we already have going in Car Chat, decided to attach it here instead. I haven't seen this question discussed here or anywhere else in the business world (maybe it has been, but I just didn't see it)...but what do you all think the possibility is of Elon Musk running to Washington for a Federal bailout? Considering the previous bailouts that were given to Lockheed, Chrysler, GM, AIG, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and a number of other companies, seems to me like Musk will be under at least some temptation to go to Congress with his hand out. Congress might ultimately say no, but you're liable to hear at least some arguments that Tesla, even if it is not a very large auto company by industry-standards, is too big to fail, and will hurt the economy too much if it does.
IMO Trump's reaction, in particular, to a loan-request, might be interesting to hear, since he himself was an entrepreneur like Musk, and built a huge empire in real-estate.
IMO Trump's reaction, in particular, to a loan-request, might be interesting to hear, since he himself was an entrepreneur like Musk, and built a huge empire in real-estate.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,472
Likes: 252
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That's one of the reasons I brought it up for discussion.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 857
Likes: 47
From: Oregon
So, resurrecting this thread after a two-week hiatus. In the news today, it is reported that about one-quarter of Model 3 depositors have asked for their money back. Currently Tesla is holding about $600 million in customer deposits. Musk has stated that it will be a looong time before the basic Model 3's are available, instead focusing on the up-market $78K version.
https://www.investors.com/news/techn...220&yptr=yahoo
Gut feeling is that there will be a reorg and then someone like Apple will buy them. No, I won't bet on it.
https://www.investors.com/news/techn...220&yptr=yahoo
Gut feeling is that there will be a reorg and then someone like Apple will buy them. No, I won't bet on it.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 48
From: NY
So, resurrecting this thread after a two-week hiatus. In the news today, it is reported that about one-quarter of Model 3 depositors have asked for their money back. Currently Tesla is holding about $600 million in customer deposits. Musk has stated that it will be a looong time before the basic Model 3's are available, instead focusing on the up-market $78K version.
https://www.investors.com/news/techn...220&yptr=yahoo
Gut feeling is that there will be a reorg and then someone like Apple will buy them. No, I won't bet on it.
https://www.investors.com/news/techn...220&yptr=yahoo
Gut feeling is that there will be a reorg and then someone like Apple will buy them. No, I won't bet on it.
I just cancelled my reservation today.......too long of a wait and I'm pretty sure the 7500 tax credit will be $3750 or less by the time they will build and deliver mine
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 11
From: California
https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/04/...l-3-preorders/
Electric car rebates are back in Texas, but not for Tesla:
https://www.autoblog.com/2018/06/05/...ates-are-back/
Back in 2013, Texas began offering its own incentives for electric vehicles. That program ended in 2015. Last year, we heard that the state would reinstate the incentives. Now, those incentives are live, according to Dallas News.
Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles are eligible for $2,500 rebates, in addition to any federal tax incentives. Fleet vehicles are exempted, but the rebate applies to personal cars whether they're purchased or leased. In addition to incentives for electric vehicles, Texas is offering $5,000 rebates for purchases of vehicles powered by compressed natural gas(CNG) or liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
As we previously reported, though, Tesla buyers will be excluded from the program. It's only available through franchise dealerships, and Texas is one of the few remaining states that doesn't allow Tesla to sell cars directly to customers.
The state has set aside more than $7.3 million for the program. It will provide rebates for up to 2,000 EVs (including FCEVs) and 1,000 natural gas vehicles, or until funding runs out. Last time around, potential customers left money on the table, with 1,896 of the 2,000 EV rebates — and just 10 percent of natural gas rebates — claimed.
Dallas News points out that to help encourage EV adoption, proponents are urging Texas to use up to $31 million in settlement money from the Volkswagen diesel scandal to pay for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations. Charging infrastructure could help reduce range anxiety, a major obstacle to EV sales.
Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles are eligible for $2,500 rebates, in addition to any federal tax incentives. Fleet vehicles are exempted, but the rebate applies to personal cars whether they're purchased or leased. In addition to incentives for electric vehicles, Texas is offering $5,000 rebates for purchases of vehicles powered by compressed natural gas(CNG) or liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
As we previously reported, though, Tesla buyers will be excluded from the program. It's only available through franchise dealerships, and Texas is one of the few remaining states that doesn't allow Tesla to sell cars directly to customers.
The state has set aside more than $7.3 million for the program. It will provide rebates for up to 2,000 EVs (including FCEVs) and 1,000 natural gas vehicles, or until funding runs out. Last time around, potential customers left money on the table, with 1,896 of the 2,000 EV rebates — and just 10 percent of natural gas rebates — claimed.
Dallas News points out that to help encourage EV adoption, proponents are urging Texas to use up to $31 million in settlement money from the Volkswagen diesel scandal to pay for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations. Charging infrastructure could help reduce range anxiety, a major obstacle to EV sales.
there's been some heresay about some Chinese company buying them up. It'd be very very very interesting to see a tech giant buy them out, then move lots of manufacturing to china lol. It would be nice to see a well established car company buy them out like Chevy, so they would have the support of dealerships.
Tesla Shareholder meeting today at 5:30 PM EST: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ho...ing-2018-06-05
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 31
From: Canada
Why would any smart company like Apple or some Chinese company spend enough to buy Ford but get a tiny, barely-functional niche automaker?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: CA
Why would Apple (or the Chinese) buy when the stock is so overinflated? At current stock price, Tesla is worth more than Ford Motor Company but is a very, very much smaller company.
Why would any smart company like Apple or some Chinese company spend enough to buy Ford but get a tiny, barely-functional niche automaker?
Why would any smart company like Apple or some Chinese company spend enough to buy Ford but get a tiny, barely-functional niche automaker?
) they guarantee themselves a fully functional apple car but most importantly they get elon musk. for $50 billion and apple has several times of that in cash that is a bargain of the century.