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Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd
Tesla has asked some suppliers to refund a portion of what the electric-car company has spent previously, an appeal that reflects the auto maker’s urgency to sustain operations during a critical production period.
This is bad news if you pre-ordered and were thinking about getting a refund but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-asks-suppliers-for-cash-back-to-help-turn-a-profit-1532301091 (Paywalled.)
See also: Miami Herald and electrek.co, which adds:
Update: Tesla sent us a full statement:
“Negotiation is a standard part of the procurement process, and now that we’re in a stronger position with Model 3 production ramping, it is a good time to improve our competitive advantage in this area. We’re focused on reaching a more sustainable long term cost basis, not just finding one-time reductions for this quarter, and that’s good for Tesla, our shareholders, and our suppliers who will also benefit from our increasing production volume and future growth opportunities. We asked fewer than 10 suppliers for a reduction in total capex project spend for long-term projects that began in 2016 but are still not complete, and any changes with these suppliers would improve our future cash flows, but not impact our ability to achieve profitability in Q3. The remainder of our discussions with suppliers are entirely focused on future parts price and design or process changes that will help us lower fundamental costs rather than prior period adjustments of capex projects. This is the right thing to do.”
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 25 2018, @05:52PM (2 children)
I think they are saying, something along the lines of:
It does leave a bad taste in the mouth, but I don't think it is wrong to ask for a deal when it becomes apparent that you will be able to make more deals soon.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday July 25 2018, @07:49PM
Tens of thousands of people pretty much do this for a living, and it's a full-time job (many full-time jobs, for big companies).
I like what Tesla does, in general. Yet this is not "news"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 25 2018, @08:33PM
Automotive companies asking for concessions on future purchases is commonplace and only natural. Tesla is asking for discounts for things they've already purchased which is quite another (ethically questionable) thing. Tesla should tread lightly. If they ever find themselves in a credit-constrained environment they will have difficulty finding suppliers and could be forced to pay upfront and/or at a premium.