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Our own anonymous AC has found the following story:
MotorTrend reviews the recent Tesla earnings call, where Musk ended by saying that the new lower cost Tesla will be a stripped version of the Model Y SUV -- rear drive only, spartan interior, smaller (and/or lower cost chemistry) battery, etc.
Sales and earnings haven't looked good this year, I wonder if this will be enough to bring people back to Tesla stores after Elon's time in Washington DC?
While not mentioned in the article, I also wonder how current Model Y owners will feel about their neighbors' ability to get a car that looks the same, without paying the Tesla luxury car price?
The story ends with other Tesla news:
The cheap Tesla news is the big headliner of the earnings call, but there were plenty of other interesting tidbits. Per usual, Musk and Tesla championed autonomy and Tesla's nascent robotaxi service. The automaker plans to expand the size and, well, suggestive shape[*] of its robotaxi service's operating area in Austin, Texas, while also eyeing San Francisco as its next location. Robotaxis are apparently already testing in the bay area, as well as Arizona and Florida. There is also the goal of reducing the cost-per-mile of robotaxi service once the Cybercab is out in the wild. Standard Tesla robotaxi vehicles will remain more expensive than Cybercab, but it will also be built differently from regular Teslas, with longer-life tires, a plusher ride, and a much lower top speed. Tesla also expects its robotaxi service to grow much larger in 2026 and "have significant impact" on Tesla's otherwise poor financials in Q2 2025—auto revenue is down by 16 percent, year-over-year, while income from all operations are down by 42 percent, year-over-year. On top of the robotaxi fleet expansion, Musk stated that he's confident that autonomous vehicle deliveries will also expand with Bay Area driverless deliveries starting by the end of this year.
Tesla's woeful financials in part come down to the upcoming revocation of the Federal EV tax credit, tariffs impacting materials cost, and the revocation of different tax credits impacting Tesla's energy storage business. Surely, Musk's polarizing foray into politics and government is having an impact on sales, too, giving some would-be buyers pause. Musk seems to acknowledge the issue, even admitting that he's worried about being ousted as the CEO, mentioning "activist shareholders" pulling a vote to remove him. With Tesla's recent quarter being its worst since 2021 and Q1 2024, there's plenty for Musk and the company to worry about.
[*] https://www.teslaacessories.com/blogs/news/tesla-expands-robotaxi-service-area-in-austin-texas spoiler, on a map it looks like a dick...
(Score: 5, Insightful) by corey on Saturday July 26, @03:18AM (3 children)
I wonder if Elon can muster the ability to see beyond his ego that he is the main reason for falling sales. If he realised that walking away from the business might boost sales, it’d be surprising. I know people who would buy a Tesla but are concerned about it being keyed or kicked, plus they don’t wanna give money to him. In fact if I was in the market for an EV then I’d definitely consider one, sans Elon. He’s really just a poison on the brand right now.
I also hear that the interior of a Tesla (dunno which model, maybe all) is a bit cheap feeling already. So if this new cheaper version has even cheaper interior, that can’t be good. Most new cars these days have so much fancy soft materials, leather, stitching, solid backing and structure and sound absorbing material. So there’s a bit of competition in that space. My 2014 ute has hard plastic everything and bland style. But it’s always covered in a layer of dust anyway. Can barely see the floor from all the crap in there. I wouldn’t want a new car with the fancy interior.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @05:56PM (2 children)
Whether he can see it or not, the board can. Question is: will the board take the necessary actions to preserve shareholder value?
> the interior of a Tesla (dunno which model, maybe all) is a bit cheap feeling already
My impression is that Tesla is ignoring a pile of lessons learned throughout the auto industry, trying to "do it differently" and as such are repeating a lot of old mistakes, especially in the Cybertruck.
If this new model Y were cheap enough, I might consider it, but doubt that my consideration would go very far... little things like door handles that don't work when the battery is dead are a non-starter for me.
> I wouldn’t want a new car with the fancy interior.
My wife bought a new pickup truck in 1999, one of the main features we both wanted was the no-carpet rubber floor mat. We finally replaced it with a 2019 model in 2023, a key selling point of the replacement was the rubber floor mat.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Funny) by number11 on Sunday July 27, @12:52AM (1 child)
Most corporate boards are lapdogs of the CEO. This particular board is friends & family.
I expect they'll be right on top of the problem, wagging their tails.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Sunday July 27, @01:08AM
The shareholders really should get some kind of representative vote. Like: six board members, biggest shareholders representing 1/6th of outstanding shares get to elect one board member, on down to the smallest shareholders representing 1/6th of outstanding shares get to elect a board member of their own... But without even reviewing the laws, I can predict that Delaware has no such provisions...
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by owl on Saturday July 26, @04:06AM (1 child)
No. Tesla's done for, EM saw to that with his antics, but it will take some time for the beatings of the dead horse to finally end.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @06:02PM
I see this "cheap model Y" announcement as a "path to future growth" dangle to keep the stock price up - probably will be slow to come to reality, and miss price targets, much like Cybertruck.
>Tesla's done for
For whatever reasons, the stock market disagrees with you. Last close: 316, it was below 300 (as low as 113) from April 2022 until November 2024 - though, I wish there was an easy way to get those stock charts adjusted for inflation, $300 in 2022 was worth $330 of today's dollars.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by istartedi on Saturday July 26, @04:11AM (10 children)
Tesla is on the ropes, and this won't help much. They built their reputation on performance and at least the drivetrain was ace so people were willing to put up with poor fit and finish.
Now not only are they the fascist car, they're not the fastest car and they were never the cheapest. The Chinese are really eating their lunch on practical battery swaps--something I've been talking about for years and it looks like the Chinese may have finally built a modular pack which was something I think is key--own your core, augment with modules for longer trips. It's a no-brainer that everybody should have seen coming. Say what you will about China, but sometimes the ability to force a standard and bring economies of scale wins. Tesla kind of did that with the NACS; but when you've got swaps DCFS starts to look a lot less important.
If it weren't for Trump, we'd be looking at these Chinese EVs undergoing approval for the US market soon. Tesla can delay this until 2028 through political action at least. After that it's anybody's bet.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 3, Touché) by gnuman on Saturday July 26, @09:25AM (8 children)
Elon also spun his story about making life multi-planetary. That definitely resonated with the geek crowd.
Exactly, that's all that's left.
Having a choice between a Tesla or BMW ... it's not a difficult choice here. Why would one pick a car with baggage and unpredictable leadership over a car made by a company of proven track record?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_5_Series_(G60)#BMW_i5 [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 3, Troll) by looorg on Saturday July 26, @10:28AM (5 children)
Poor example but that would be a company run by a current "crazy person"/"fascist"/"nazi" (Elon) and a company that worked for and with actual real Nazis ...
How is that a hard choice again? If that is your main concern and criteria here. How Nazi the owner of said brand is/was. At least Elon, hopefully, treats his workers better then the forced labor that BMW used during WWII. If that now is your main concern ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 26, @12:29PM
You people are very interesting. Glad I'm not a psychologist or sociologist- my head would explode.
"Nazi"- you hate them, right? But the actual Nazis hate Jews, right? But you seem to also hate Jews (Israel), right? So you're a Nazi. And you hate yourself.
Idiots.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by gnuman on Saturday July 26, @01:21PM (1 child)
So what you are *trying* to compare is BMW under Nazis 85 years ago as compared to Tesla under Musk today? And then, in that bizarre comparison, you justify supporting Elon because at least he's not allowed to run in a concentration camp or something? Is that the justification?
It may be hard for you to believe, but BMW today is no longer run by Nazis. And they have a quality product at competitive prices. Hence, they get my money. And Tesla, not so much. Maybe 10 years ago, it would have been opposite for mostly altruistic reasons, but, well, burned bridges and all that shit.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by looorg on Saturday July 26, @06:02PM
Not at all. I merely responded to the statement that he would rather get a BMW then a car from Tesla since one was a company run by a "Nazi", while pointing out that the other company worked with actual nazis but he apparently doesn't have an issue with that. Even tho as you note it was 85ish years ago.
I'd get a BMW over a Tesla to. But not cause I care about if Elon is a "Nazi" or not. I don't think he is one. He might be crazy and eccentric. But I doubt he is an actual Nazi. So I judge the car by its qualities, that Tesla might be lacking. Not for the potential ideology of it's maker. Ford was more or less a Nazi to wasn't he? So we are dwindling the amount of potential cars you can buy then. Lets not even get into other companies or fields ...
I'm fairly sure all the people that actually build the Tesla are not Nazis either. Are the people that designed the car for Elon Nazis? Or are they just Nazi-by-association for working for Elon? I'd say neither. I don't know. There might be one. Does it matter? Not really.
But there is apparently a statute of limitation on your Nazism guilt? And it's somewhere around 85ish years ago. Probably a lot less. The list as noted for German, and other, companies that worked with the Nazis is quite long. It will be hard to find a German mechanical, auto or chemical company that was around at the start of the last century that wasn't working with them. I don't really care if they worked for them, or with them or whatever. As noted it was 85ish years ago. The time to get over that was long ago.
My objection is calling everything you don't like for "Nazi" or "Fascists" even tho your evidence for such is quite limited and highly subjective. You might not like him or agree with Elon, or any of his companies, but that still doesn't make him a Nazi. I don't care for or like Elon. I constantly make fun of him and his companies here. But I still don't think he is a Nazi. No matter how many cameras he waves to in a "Nazi"-way.
(Score: 2) by istartedi on Saturday July 26, @04:49PM
To reject the modern BMW company as "nazi", you must accept the personhood of corporations, and their inability to be redeemed. I reject both.
What's your statute of limitations? Do you also reject Wells Fargo as an instrument of Native American genocide? Ford because Henry Ford was also an antisemite who published his views in the Dearborn Independent? And the list goes on. It's a serious question in a lot of ways. I tend to lean towards absolving the children of criminals, and thus I reject the notion of reparations for slavery and such; but if we hold that entities are continuous, valid, and culpable as the legal community frequently does then you end up with rulings such as the case where some land in California was recently returned to a Black family from which it was taken over 100 years ago. Since it was a city paying the price, it doesn't impact individuals much. The real problem is when you start taking things from individuals who had no part in the original crime, in the name of "social justice". That's how you create a Zimbabwe situations, and I'm not going for that. To reiterate, it's not a settled PoV. If it were, there wouldn't be so much discussion around it.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 4, Touché) by weirsbaski on Sunday July 27, @10:39PM
BMW cozied up to the nazis 80 years ago during WWII. Elon is cozying up to neo-nazis now, 0 years ago. BMW isn't that company any more, but Elon is who he is right now.
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @06:06PM (1 child)
>The 2026 BMW i5 has a starting sticker price of $68,275
The most we have ever paid for a vehicle purchase is $30K (2023), and that's something that's expected to last 20+ years.
Sure, we could cash the ESPP savings of the past few years and pay cash for a new i5, but we just don't spend enough time in our vehicles to justify pissing that much money down the drain. $6K for a nice sofa for the screened porch is a much better value by comparison.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 28, @09:23AM
Fair, but in this case we are comparing electric cars, which cost more. If your budget is $30k, then electric car is out of price range.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bussdriver on Sunday July 27, @02:55AM
Part of the Tesla appeal was identity and smugness; he killed that part of it for most everybody.
Tesla makes money because they sell POLLUTION CREDITS to other car companies so they can continue to suck gas. That system would fade out but I believe Trump killed it and Musk didn't seem even aware of it until it was too late; we was too busy setting up contracts and covering up his criminal fraud with USAID which is why he shredded everything about him immediately. They were auditing him. This is dead simple people!
Oh, Trump has business in Panama. There was an investigation going on because he may have been laundering money there... for Russia is the rumor.... So we threaten to invade them... no investigations anymore. Was China taking over the canal? not at all. Is Harvard attacking Jews? not at all. Stupid excuses for stupid people to cover the real motives.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by sgleysti on Saturday July 26, @06:07AM (3 children)
Fuck Fascism. Fuck Elon Musk. I'm not buying a car from a fucking Nazi.
(Score: 0, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 26, @12:39PM (2 children)
1) Define "fascist".
2) Logically / rationally, without leaps of logic, explain how Elon Musk is a fascist?
Oh, I see, you've redefined "fascist". Part of revisionist ideology involves redefining words. So manipulating language is your mechanism of action. I know someone who is very manipulative. That person is very clever with language, spin, and cherry-picking "facts" to make you believe whatever their agenda is. How does it feel to be a manipulated idiot?
Before you drone on with your typical liberal tripe, I'm politically neutral, and used to vote mostly Democrat. But, being neutral, I look at all sides of issues, I look at cause-effect relationships, I look at agendas, I look at who's manipulating the entire political system. Very very troubling news about Obama et al conspiring against Trump claiming, without any proof, there was "Russian election interference". I'm going to be very happy to see many going to prison. Hoping they dig up enough dirt to put Obama there too.
(Score: 4, Informative) by sgleysti on Saturday July 26, @04:00PM (1 child)
Here's from wikipedia:
That seems like a political system he would be ok with. It sounds a lot like what Trump is up to, and he helped Trump do it, at least for a time. The Nazi salutes are a big clue. The whole pronatalist thing with racist overtones seems right in line with the rest of this.
For those who marked my prior comment troll or flamebait: I wrote what I really think, and I mean it.
(Score: 3, Informative) by sgleysti on Saturday July 26, @04:00PM
Oh, how could I forget. Think about how he treats his workers. All around bad dude.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by namefags_are_jerks on Saturday July 26, @06:18AM (2 children)
What the world needs is an /available/ EV commuter-targeted motorcycle -- Honda have done 'market-research-level' leased bikes, there's been the likes of Vectrix, small companies that's couldn't like Brammo and Zero, 'token' Triumph/Harley/BMWs, dopey overpowered eBikes, and a growing e-scooter market in China (SOCO, Omoway..), but I would make a Telsabike my next vehicle purchase if they were around.
EV Motos use far less energy that an EV Car for starters.
(Score: 2, Funny) by ledow on Saturday July 26, @12:27PM
Yes, because nothing says "family vehicle" like an instantly accelerating, AI-controlled, poorly-build, silent deathtrap.
There's a reason nobody wants one.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @06:09PM
I keep wanting a 3kW (actual) 50+ mile range @45mph electric bike/moped/motorcycle, but they keep asking $3K+ for them. It's a regulatory no-man's land between 26mph e-bikes and actual 60+mph e-motorcycles. With 3kW I could travel the local streets with some confidence, less than that and I cower on the sidewalks.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by ledow on Saturday July 26, @12:24PM
No amount of discount will have me supporting a company that blindly obeys Musk without question or without condemnation.
It's literally that simple.
Get rid of him, and I'll think about it. Until then, Tesla is more toxic a brand than I can ever imagine any other example of.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Saturday July 26, @12:50PM (3 children)
I've bought several Tesla products over the years. A Model S, Model Y, Cybertruck, Solar Panels, Battery backup. ~$350k total.
Will likely never buy anything else from them. Maybe if Musk is no longer involved with the company.
My Model Y is 5 years old. Original plan was to trade it in and get a new Model S. Not happening. New plan is to drive it another 1-2 years and then maybe a Lexus all-electric if they are using the NACS charging port (I haven't really looked into it; I hear they are doing a refresh for 2026 model year).
(Score: 2, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @06:14PM (1 child)
I bought TSLA stock "back in the day" at some absurdly low price before the split. In Dec24/Jan25 somewhere I sold all but 100 shares of it, making huge gains over the initial investment, and 100 shares is still enough to be interesting / significant. I'm mostly holding it based on the hope that EM will get ousted by the TSLA board, though if that were going to happen I imagine it would have happened already, so... mostly I suppose it's that I am hedging against my own limited perspective. From my perspective TSLA's future prospects should have it trading at 31, not 316. I usually "follow my gut" but also try to diversify, so this is a diversification play: I don't understand it, but in case my gut is wrong about literally everything, TSLA is something that should do well.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by number11 on Sunday July 27, @01:10AM
Tried to mod that "interesting" and something blew up, the result was:
Q: Why do firemen wear red suspenders?
A: To conform with departmental regulations concerning uniform dress.
... (can't show entire thing cuz lameness filter didn't like all that whitespace)
and it logged me out.
(Score: 2) by sgleysti on Sunday July 27, @02:03AM
How do you have this kind of money to spend? Just a high income? Are you also saving for retirement?
My plan is to drive the little commuter car I bought used until it won't run and bank as much as I can in a 401k...
(Score: 4, Interesting) by FuzzyTheBear on Saturday July 26, @10:55PM (2 children)
Few days ago , Musk ordered the starlink network used in Ukraine shut down leaving them opened to Russian attacls.
With that type of behavior and what i view as backstabbing Ukraine during the worst time that can be imagined you can guess that
his cars will stay in his dealership. I cannot on one hand buy a Tesla and at the same time support Ukraine in it's fight against Russia.
Same owner. It's a matter of loyalty for me.Backstabbing Ukraine the way he did and does disqualifies all products / services associated with his name.
Frankly , even if he gave it to me , i'd say no , keep it. I won't in any way shape or form use/drive his services and products.
It's a matter of loyalty. Playing for Russia's team disqualifies him of any business transaction.
If his company tanks and closes , that's his doings. Noone else's fault but his.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Sunday July 27, @12:51AM
Again?
He's done it before.
Starlink might be useful if it were reliable.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by number11 on Sunday July 27, @01:12AM
From what I've read, Starlink was down everywhere. Something about running untested code on a production server :(
"Move fast, break things".