The Model Y will be a test of Tesla's popularity
Tesla announced at the end of February that it was finally ready to make and sell the long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, an affordable electric car that was part of Musk's original "master plan" for the company, published in 2006. Closing most of the company's stores and switching to a completely online sales model was how Musk was able to finally achieve this goal, and it also allowed Tesla to lower the price on its other cars.
Normally, that might be seen as a good thing. But many customers who purchased Teslas before the price drops felt jilted. One of the most vocal critics was comedian Chris Titus, who complained to his 125,000 Twitter followers on March 2nd about how his wife bought a Tesla two days before the prices dropped. "@elonmusk lost a loyal customer," Titus wrote. "[T]he people that supported you, praised you and cared about you [sic] dream got boned."
Anger about the price cuts bubbled up in China, too, which is the world's largest market for electric cars. After Tesla cut prices on all of its models there, a number of owners protested at the company's store in the Hunan province capital city of Changsha. The upset owners wrapped the store in a banner that apparently translated to "don't buy now, buy tomorrow at a discount."
[...] [There] is some data backing up the apparent change in sentiment around Tesla. In an Axios-Harris poll of 18,228 adults conducted between November and January, Tesla's ranking slid across a number of categories. It dropped from being the 14th most trusted company out of 100 to 46th. The company's "character" ranking fell from 7th to 57th, and its "ethics" ranking slid from 5th to 56th.
See also: Did Ford just tease an electric Mustang as Tesla debuts Model Y?
Tesla's Model Y sales goals 'aggressive,' analyst says
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @11:18PM (13 children)
Good luck getting warranty service after that.
(Score: 3, Funny) by realDonaldTrump on Friday March 15 2019, @11:45PM (12 children)
Cars -- people don't know this -- are made out of Car "parts." Many, many "parts." And I've heard that Tesla, for certain "parts" they give 8 years of warranty. But, for most of the "parts" it's 4 years. Which, I have to say, 4 years is incredible. They have all this electricity going back and forth. The A.C., and the D.C. And you have to wonder, how can they keep that up for 4 years? They think they can. Or, they think they can fool us into thinking that they think they can.
And I hope they don't do the B.K. -- that they won't have to do that. Because they're one of our few Car Companies that decided to go 100% electric. And they did that almost from the beginning. They think electric is the future. And I hope they're right. Because so much of our electric comes from Clean Coal. You know, that beautiful stuff that our proud Coal Miners are working very hard to dig up. Day and night, they go into our marvelous mines. Day and night, they dig. Day and night, Clean Coal coming out of those mines. Very busy workers. These guys -- and ladies -- have the best job in the entire world. Cheatin' Obama tried to kill our Coal Industry. And he almost succeeded. If Crooked H had been elected, you'd have kids growing up now that wouldn't know what Coal is. Because all the mines would have closed years ago. They're open for business. And America is open for business. Because of me!
(Score: 2, Funny) by koick on Saturday March 16 2019, @04:52AM (9 children)
*Rolls eyes*, this time and most every time I see a post by this person...
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:26AM (1 child)
You think I'm "lame." Politically correct way to say, crippled. You don't want me to remind you of our National Nightmare -- Hillary Clinton. You don't like that and I think you don't like me. O.K. But, at least I had somethings to say about Tesla, about the Tesla warranty. Anomalous says, "oh, you'll be lucky to get 3 years on that warranty, they're going under!" When, for a lot of stuff, it's only a 4 year warranty anyway. And they're doing electric. Which our Environmentals love. They hate Coal, but they love electric. But so much of our electric -- especially at night -- comes from Coal. These are things that, maybe you knew. Maybe you didn't know. If you knew, you could have tweeted them. If you didn't know, well, you learned them from my Tweet. What if I hadn't tweeted? Possibly you would never know. Because it looks like you don't care so much about the story or about the tweet by Anomalous. Or you would have tweeted something about that. Instead of just hating on me because I used to have Bone Spurs. Because I was "lame" but I'm now very rich. And you can create the type of Social Media you supposedly want. My daughter said something very special. So smart & inspiring. She said "be the Change you wish to see in the World." Do it!!!
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday March 16 2019, @06:39AM
(cont) Another Smart Quote. "80% of life is showing up." Woody Allen saying, in a way, almost the same thing Ivanka said. I show up. And when I can't, my staff fill in for me. Maybe you don't have a Social Media manager, maybe you don't have lawyers that are good with Social Media. But, what about doing it yourself? I see very very few tweets from you, very very few Subs from you (that get Approved). If I was giving out the Participation Trophies -- sorry, none for you!
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:26AM (4 children)
He's a method actor, and a rather good one too; he sounds like the Trump of 10 years ago, before all the obvious cerebrovascular damage happened. I still think he's useless and annoying as fuck, but I have to give him credit for really doing his homework.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:43AM
Possibly the "nicest" thing you've said about Donald J. Trump, Azuki Hazuma. Is it the new, and MUCH better paying job, is it the magnificent Tax Refund you're getting because of me -- or is it my sexy body? Getting many compliments on that one!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @06:12AM (2 children)
That is giving too much credit to first-person fan fiction.
Did you just assume their gender?
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday March 16 2019, @06:02PM (1 child)
I did indeed. Women don't do stupid shit like this. Suck it up, troll :)
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @07:45PM
>> Women don't do stupid shit like this
Even if that presumptuously broad generalization was assumed to be true:
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Saturday March 16 2019, @11:03AM
koick wrote :
Whooosh
(Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday March 16 2019, @03:38PM
Hi, I'm barely tolerating this as much as I can. What more do you want?
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:21AM (1 child)
That photovoltaic cells work much like computer chips originally led them to be built in "Wafer Fabs", that is, the very large, very clean factories where slices of refined Silicon Crystal are the wafers we speak of.
As demand - slowly - grew, special such Fabs were constructed, leading to better Economies Of Scale - slowly - reducing the price of photovoltaic electricity to the point that it is competitive for certain applications where energy is costly, as with tropical islands.
Due to the oil industry's great desire to create jobs for the American people, they bought up all the patents for solar and other renewable energies throughout the seventies and eighties, with many of them actively funding original renewable research so as to lock up the patents for as-yet undreamt of technologies as well.
Thus during my time in Pasadena, ARCO Solar hired a great many newly-minted California Institute Of Technology [pasadenastarnews.com] Alumni.
But now we have the problem that all those patents are expired, with the so-sad result that jobs are being created not here in America, where Clean Coal is mined, but in China, as Fabs of every variety are quite labor intensive.
My own take on Economics is in start contrast to those of the public enemy Federal Reserve Board, as exemplified by former Chair Janet Yellen's to tax Carbon - a "Pilouvian" Tax - then for no reason I can fathom, to distribute the proceeds to the American people in general - including those in, say, Santa Cruz - rather than to the economically displaced peoples of Appalachia, Montana and Wyoming.
In the parlance of my own Economic Theory, such a broadly-applied Pilouvian Tax is a "Push". By contrast we have that Socialist Whore Alexandria - a restaurant waitress! - foisting her Green New Deal upon the unsuspecting public. That in again my own parlance is a "Pull".
As I myself really can speak to every feline - even jungle wildcats! - just like Dr. Doolittle could, I advance my Pushmi-Pullyu Hypothesis [guacamoleroad.com]:
Were you to offer to Mr. Musk to work together, in a purely bipartisan spirit of cooperation, quite likely that with such appropriate job-creating incentives as suspending traffic and parking mitigation fees, my friend and yours Elon could be convinced to construct Photovoltaic Wafer Fabs in Appalachia, in Montana and in Wyoming.
As I know very well that despite our great friendship, you as the Leader of the Free World have an uncommonly full appointment book, please accept my suggestion to delegate my letter to the appropriate Federal Agency.
As I am a Novelist [warplife.com] - self-published at that - and so Economics and the like are for me largely Armchair Expertise, I do not actually know just which Federal Agency to which you would best delegate.
#MAGA!
Jonathan Swift [warplife.com],
Vancovuer, Washington
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @02:57PM
> Elon could be convinced to construct Photovoltaic Wafer Fabs in Appalachia, in Montana and in Wyoming.
Not happening, Musk can't even get the solar cell plant near Buffalo NY up to full capacity: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-11-20/inside-elon-musk-s-forgotten-gigafactory-2-in-buffalo [bloomberg.com]
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @11:31PM (1 child)
A favorite trick for car thieves is to break the triangular back window in the S
which isn't alarmed.
If that happens, it's a $1200 repair.
The sweet smell of Musk while being boned.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @11:35PM
Sounds like a fun game for anyone, not just car thieves... I know some twats who are in for a $1200 surprise.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Friday March 15 2019, @11:38PM (1 child)
Perhaps someone could explain how this is a SUV. Looks like a street vehicle to me.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Saturday March 16 2019, @04:48AM
It's a "crossover." My brother the automotive engineer explained it as a sop to the people who want an SUV but don't want to be criticized for killing the planet.
Anyway, it's a hatchback, which is a good thing. I like the form factor of the Model 3 because we have to deal with on-street, alternate-side parking in Brooklyn, but as a sedan it just doesn't have the versatility we need.
I would have to take a test ride in one first to judge the interior. The model S is fine up front, but the back seats have so little headroom I have to bend my head sideways.
The glass roof and autopilot are big pluses. We like to take long road trips through scenic places, so being able to relax a bit and take in the panorama would be quite welcome.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Informative) by corey on Friday March 15 2019, @11:51PM
TFS doesn't mention the Model Y which the title was about. Just being pedantic.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of these on the road. Seems a fair bit of cynicism and anti-Musk tone here as usual but they are decent cars with decent range and acceleration. I think the model 3 should sell well given the price. In Australia the model S and X are up over 100k. For that price you can get some serious luxury from a German brand.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @11:55PM (1 child)
Sure, feel bad about it having happened, but to go from feeling bad to concluding you've been done wrong isn't free, y'all better come up with a good fukkin reason dropping prices is unethical or STFU and deal with your hurt feelings like adults.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 15 2019, @11:59PM
Chinamen and funny niggaz gotta complain about something.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Sulla on Saturday March 16 2019, @12:24AM (2 children)
The people who buy a product at a higher cost than they know it will be in the near future are just doing it to show off. Apple customers do it all the time, and rich people did it with Teslas. Now the want to have their cake and eat it too, fuck em.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @01:41AM
One problem is that Tesla/Musk has talked about the $35,000 Model 3 for years now. In no way should it be a surprise, unless you never believed it was possible.
-t
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Saturday March 16 2019, @10:11AM
One way a car's price will drop in the near future is if it is sold after a little use. If you look around, are patient, and know a bit about cars, you can find and buy a low-mileage 2-3 yo car in immaculate condition that someone had to sell because of circumstances. I have always bought cars that way, at less than half the price of new, even though I could afford to buy new. I have better things to do with the ~ $20k that I save that way.
Another point is that top-of-the range models (I mean in luxury, not performance) don't fetch a much higher price in the used market than more basic ones. In fact the market can invert - small "cheap" cars, assumed to be cheaper to run, especially ones fashionable among students, greenies, little old ladies, and hipsters, end up costing more than large "luxury" cars that were far more expensive when new. The cars that are popular among students etc tend to be more beaten up too.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @12:32AM (2 children)
You enviro freaks should take a second look at Chevy Bolt. I despise you ebito-nazzis, but I am looking into buying one for daily errands despite by hatred for GM - a good product is a good product.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 16 2019, @04:50AM
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @06:29PM
If you don't regard buying GM electric cars as a moral hazard you should watch this documentary. [wikipedia.org] If you give money to these guys you are working against the entire E-car market, including the resale market for the car you just bought. If you don't understand, watch the film.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 16 2019, @04:48AM (3 children)
That right there is the specific public sentiment that led to the Great Depression when Deflation set in.
With Tech we have quite a serious problem: when will our boxes be juicy enough? I assert we hit that "Inflection Point" long ago.
There's no Damn good reason an iPhone couldn't cost a hundred clams but were that to happen, it's not so much that Tim would get sacked but that the entire planet's economy would go down in fucking flames due to the resulting Deflationary Spiral.
That's long been an active area of research for me [warplife.com], but I haven't posted much about it as I have yet to elucidate even a way to ease this oncoming Economic Holocaust...
... other than to stockpile dried beans, rice and canned goods, as well as that I'm already saving up not for a Deep Freeze but a Chest Freezer [orwell.ru].
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 16 2019, @03:33PM (1 child)
Our phones currently struggle to keep up with AR.
>inb4 phones shouldn't be doing AR
Phones clearly aren't phones anymore, they're just the next step in mainframe->minicomputer->microcomputer->laptop->phone->implant, and until they surpass at least where desktops/laptops are now they're not juicy enough.
>inb4 the screen isn't good enough to take advantage
With stuff like chrome-cast finally getting going the screen attached to your portable computer doesn't much matter, nor does the input since you can just use a bluetooth keyboard.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 16 2019, @09:54PM
Good Point.
_That_ will happen a couple years after ARM64 becomes widely deployed in desktops and laptops.
This because Mobile Systems-on-Chip have lots more than CPUs in them - for example the ARM7TDMI in the Oxford Semi OXUF922 has an IEEE 1394a and b core, a USB2 core, a UART - I expect for Oxford's own engineers to debug it with, as I never used it myself - somewhere in there was a firmware upload client though I don't know whether that was an actual core, it had 128k of 16-Bit Flash, there was some 32-Bit DRAM but not much, something like 8k, there was a watchdog.
Desktop, Laptop and Server CPUs of course generally have no other cores than for Integer, Floating Point, L1 and maybe L2 Cache.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Saturday March 16 2019, @03:40PM
Well, that and epically bad government policy for a decade.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:02AM (1 child)
Try combining Model X and Model Z. You get one of the single most overpowered, broken feature sets in history. Cross-charged double buster shot *and* an entire complement of Zetsabre skills? Sign me the heck up!
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:25AM
At the time of the events in question, while I had recently experienced the onset of my Hypergraphia I don't regard the vision I had at the time as being due to Hyperreligiosity. I explain my alternative theory in the text.
Please to tear it to shreds that I may revise and repost, eventually to submit to Medium itself my very best work.
BEHOLD:
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]