I watched this launch today. A few thoughts. I think Tesla do some fantastic technology, brilliant…
I watched this launch today. A few thoughts.
I think Tesla do some fantastic technology, brilliant engineering. It's hard to talk about because of the minefield of team sports battle surrounding the CEO. /1 https://t.co/gQpk0mbgOP
I think semi-autonomous and autonomous driving is a big part of the future of road transport. Most major brands have adaptive cruise control already, which can do a lot of driver-assist.
So I can believe Tesla is targeting a potentially big market here. /2
But Tesla needed something that will excite investors and buyers right now. These cybertaxis I think won't be available until at least 2026. The Robovan probably even later.
And the robots, probably even later again. /3
The Model Y refresh is apparently imminent, that's a smart and long overdue move. A brilliant car, deserving of being the best-selling car in the world.
But not one mention of it today. And not (as was hoped) any mention of a small car offering. /4
It beggars belief that Tesla hasn't produced a car for the small segment yet. One they could have a hot hatch variant of as well. Something at the cheaper end of the market.
BYD can seemingly churn out a model a week, and major refreshes of existing models as quickly. /5
To be fair they're already something Tesla isn't. A mass market car maker. They can already do huge volumes.
They have phenomenal toolmaking resources to bring product to market almost unbelievably quickly. /6
Plus their vertical integration means they can do all of that at a cost no Western carmaker can match.
Ignore all of the parochial rubbish about the Chinese State interfering with the 'free' vehicle market. /7
The Western car industry wouldn't exist without a century of massive subsidisation of ICE and fossil fuel technology. And don't forget they've also had over a century of almost cost-free pollution.
Nobody has been paying those 'externalities'. Except the global climate. /8
I'd encourage anybody to own a Tesla vehicle. Again, the engineering is superb, a lot of brilliant minds. The software is world-leading too.
I know many will say 'I can't because of Elon'. I'm watching a superb coverage of the Bathurst 100 right now run by Rupert Murdoch.
/9
Just give up the team sports (I know you won't).
Also, many corporate launches now copy Steve Jobs' brilliant format. Tesla has no idea how to do that, the pacing was embarrassingly bad today. /10
Mumbling, key features missed and no emphasis given to critical releases. The very interesting self-cleaning functionality of the cybertaxi wasn't even mentioned, only briefly shown. /11
I'm an ex-teacher, the presentation made me wince. Ultimately I don't care, the details of the products are important. But it seems inexcusable for a company of this size.
/end