Comments on: Tesla Death Watch 20: California Dreamin’

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:35:50 +0000

I suppose their big argument would be that they are settling nearest their potential customers.

Rich people, mild weather where batteries behave better, and where the mindset might be more friendly to the EV concept.

Maybe the Tesla people just want to live in CA. Didn’t Nissan have a hard time getting everybody to move to Tennessee? Nissan obviously thought they would save some cash being here.

Still build them in the southeast and sell them everywhere. Would be a BIG savings.

By: tauronmaikar

tauronmaikar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Tesla settling in CA is just further proof that this company is about marketing and hype and not about mass producing cars. Joeaverage: don’t hold your breath.

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:58:32 +0000

Surprised that Telsa who I’d guess want to make a profit would settle in Southern CA where everything is expensive instead of the south east US where there is cheap land, cheap labor, and cheap parts suppliers all over.

Good luck to them. America needs their EVs. I look forward to the version that people of more modest means can afford.

By: JEM

JEM — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:52:42 +0000

marc_m – Tesla’s never been about cheap, and there’s no way to build a ‘cheap’ EV. The problem with Tesla to date has been that Elon Musk’s money brings Elon Musk with it, and his absolute devotion to making the perfect the enemy of the good has delayed the Roadster by years.

Deciding to build in California, no matter the incentives offered, is pandering to image over business common sense.

By: marc_m

marc_m — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:02:03 +0000

Looking at the picture, and reading the presentation, well, most sounds like it’s cut out of a low-budget Sci-Fi movie. “Dark Star” drive train (it’ll be dark alright), 110+ mpg, acceleration under 6 seconds. And the magic words, “Sports Sedan”. Doesn’t all this clash against the concept of cheap energy efficient and non-polluting transportation? Oh, wait, it’s all smoke and mirrors…

By: tauronmaikar

tauronmaikar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:04:22 +0000

And the funny thing is the company will go under before 10 years has passed when the populace and Hollywood celebs realize the mileage and emissions figures are about the same as modern turbodiesels and one can kill the battery after a few deep discharges.

By: Cicero

Cicero — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:22:51 +0000

It’s reassuring to know that there’s a place for Baghdad Bob Lutz to work when GM goes tango uniform.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:49:36 +0000

Governator Schwarzenegger has already offered to waive sales taxes on the first $100m of equipment purchased for the factory (angering not a few non-automotive manufacturers).

And, how about the citizens of Kaleefornya. The state still doesn’t have a budget. Previously proposed budgets have tried to use smoke and mirrors to make a $15 billion dollar deficit go away. And the governor’s proposed budget included a sales tax increase. Yet, he wants to waive the sales tax on up to $100m ($7.25M at the current rate) in equipment for Tesla!? You know $7M here, $5M there, and eventually it adds up to some real money.