Tesla Station

[HumanBeing]

yet already profitable. I had read that they intended to work backwards in producing high end vehicles first then come down to more economical models later. hopefully not too much later. I think that if the recharging infrastructure is in place, an economically affordable model sales will soar.

Uh, no. The only "profit" (and I use the term very loosely) that Tesla has ever made wasn't from selling cars.

 

[DA60]

Tesla's are great electric cars, IMO.

But they are pretty expensive...but that is good right now.

Because of the pathetically messed up economy, trillions of central bank dollars are being indirectly funnelled into equities. And since virtually no one but the rich owns any significant amounts of equities, then the rich are getting far richer on the backs of QE's/low interest rates.

Look at all the luxury brands - they cannot build enough cars plus yacht's, luxury homes, private jets, etc..

Tesla has been fortunate to produce the 'S' at the right time.

If/when the bottom drops out of the economy - that will be the true test as to how viable a car company it really is.

 

[Oozlefinch]

Uh, no. The only "profit" (and I use the term very loosely) that Tesla has ever made wasn't from selling cars.

Don't you dare corrupt good propaganda with reality!

The loan was repaid both from licensing of their technology, as well as their IPO and the shell-game of "selling carbon credits".

The company so far is still barely above water.

 

[HumanBeing]

the shell-game of "selling carbon credits".

It's a funny one isn't it?

To break down the numbers:

They made $68 mill from zero emissions credits
They made $17 mill from greenhouse gas emissions credits
They spent $91 mill making and selling cars

Pretty sweet business model, huh? Guess who pays for it (here's a clue: it's not their customers ).

 

[Oozlefinch]

It's a funny one isn't it?

To break down the numbers:

They made $68 mill from zero emissions credits
They made $17 mill from greenhouse gas emissions credits
They spent $91 mill making and selling cars

Pretty sweet business model, huh? Guess who pays for it (here's a clue: it's not their customers ).

Yea, great example of "Corporate Socialism".

 

[poweRob]

Uh, no. The only "profit" (and I use the term very loosely) that Tesla has ever made wasn't from selling cars.

how can you say 'um no' then follow it up by saying that they were profitable? I never said their profitability was 100% from sales alone. they are profitable from sales and being smart businessmen.

Tesla Motors made a profit in Q1, but not on its electric cars - CSMonitor.com

 

[poweRob]

Tesla's are great electric cars, IMO.

But they are pretty expensive...but that is good right now.

Because of the pathetically messed up economy, trillions of central bank dollars are being indirectly funnelled into equities. And since virtually no one but the rich owns any significant amounts of equities, then the rich are getting far richer on the backs of QE's/low interest rates.

Look at all the luxury brands - they cannot build enough cars plus yacht's, luxury homes, private jets, etc..

Tesla has been fortunate to produce the 'S' at the right time.

If/when the bottom drops out of the economy - that will be the true test as to how viable a car company it really is.

good points. I think they are far too young and have too small of a line to survive an economic dump. I hope that doesn't happen.

 

[Hard Truth]

I've long thought that battery changing stations would be necessary for electric cars to be mainstream. I have heard they are used successfully in Israel. I hope that the manufacturers can standardize the batteries to minimize compatibility issues.

 

[poweRob]

It's a funny one isn't it?

To break down the numbers:

They made $68 mill from zero emissions credits
They made $17 mill from greenhouse gas emissions credits
They spent $91 mill making and selling cars

Pretty sweet business model, huh? Guess who pays for it (here's a clue: it's not their customers ).

not a peep from the same people bellyaching over this back when bush was giving huge rebates for purchases of hummers.

selective political outrage rears its head again.

USATODAY.com - Bush plan gives huge tax break to buyers of big SUVs

Small businesses and the self-employed could deduct the entire cost, up to $75,000, from business income the year of the purchase. Normally it would be written off over several years, using a depreciation schedule. Deducting the entire cost in one year considerably reduces that year's taxable income, and income taxes. In some cases, it could result in paying no federal income tax.

 

[poweRob]

I've long thought that battery changing stations would be necessary for electric cars to be mainstream. I have heard they are used successfully in Israel. I hope that the manufacturers can standardize the batteries to minimize compatibility issues.

agreed. I want to see a standardization happen. would be beneficial to the whole market.

 

[HumanBeing]

how can you say 'um no' then follow it up by saying that they were profitable?

The "profit" didn't come from customers, it came from a completely bizarre and unsustainable form of ponzi scheme, using taxpayers as the base of the pyramid.

They spent $91 mill to make and sell cars, and that got them $85 mill in "credits". Of course it's going to be "profitable" with that sort of nonsense, they would have to be spectacularly bad not to turn a profit with margins like that.

If you think that's a good or sustainable business model, you are living on another planet. I think it's spurious to suggest the company is actually profitable in any real terms at this stage.

they are profitable from sales and being smart businessmen

lol?

not a peep from the same people bellyaching over this back when bush was giving huge rebates for purchases of hummers

I bellyache whenever the government does anything with money that shouldn't belong to them in the first place. I view tax breaks as a form of government mockery of its citizens. It's like a thief coming and stealing your wallet with all your money in it, then giving you a couple of dollars for bus fare into town and making you thank him for it. Except with this one, they are stealing my wallet and giving the bus fare to other people, so it's just plain not cool.

 

[Oozlefinch]

I've long thought that battery changing stations would be necessary for electric cars to be mainstream. I have heard they are used successfully in Israel. I hope that the manufacturers can standardize the batteries to minimize compatibility issues.

Of course, you are also talking about a nation where it's entire area is less then 1/3 the size of the Greater Los Angeles area. So that is really not all that impressive to be honest.

You just can't compare a nation that measures a little over 8,000 square miles, and come even close when comparing it to the logistical challenges of even meeting that benchmark even in California, at almost 164,000 square miles. The comparison is not even close.