Tesla Streamlines Paint Options to Simplify Production

by Matt Posky

September 12th, 2018 1:03 PM

tesla streamlines paint options to simplify production

Tesla’s Elon Musk announced Tuesday that the automaker will limit its paint options to simplify production and, hopefully, improve volume. “Moving [two] of [seven] Tesla colors off menu on Wednesday to simplify manufacturing,” said the CEO via social media. “Obsidian Black and Metallic Silver will still be available as special request, but at higher price.”

The announcement comes after a busy press week for Tesla. Musk lost his chief accounting officer after a comically brief tenure and was lambasted for smoking marijuana on Joe Rogan’s podcast. However, the real crime was how much of it Elon wasted by puffing on the monster wrap in an attempt to appease the host, without ever inhaling any smoke. That’s no way to get high.

Spliffs aside, the company’s decision to increase the point of entry for two of the most popular paint shades in history does seem a little drug induced. In truth, Solid Black is actually the only Tesla color that comes without an additional cost. The rest are technically on special order. Obsidian and Metallic Silver will just have their own extra special category now. The automaker probably thinks it’s a good way to speed up production a bit while making some extra cash, as both would be helpful.

In a blog post earlier this month, Musk said Tesla was on pace to deliver more than twice as many cars as it did last quarter. Meanwhile, the firm has put a gun to its own head to do everything in its power to increase revenue and avoid a potential cash crunch as shares took a sizable dive in August.

While the CEO did not say how much those colors would cost, some shades already tack on a hefty premium. Expect to shell out at least $1,500 for sparkly black or gray, while waiting longer for delivery.

[Image: Tesla Motors]

#ElonMusk #PaintOptions #Tesla #TeslaModel3 #TeslaModelS #TeslaModelX #TeslaMotors

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6 of 29 comments

MrIcky on Sep 12, 2018

Make paint a 'dealer installed option'? Like door panels and center consoles.

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- Mcs on Sep 12, 2018
  
  That might not be a bad option. Some of the people using Teslas in drag racing are stripping out the interiors and trunk linings to increase performance.
  
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- Akear on Sep 12, 2018
  
  The main difference is people are lining up to buy Teslas, while GM had to find customers for many of their cars.
  
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- EBFlex on Sep 13, 2018
  
  @akear Completely false. GM makes money. Tesla has not made one penny of profit since they first started. You don’t turn a profit if you’re not selling automobiles. GM turns out infinitely more vehicles, in a factory (not a circus tent) with correct door panels, and radar guided cruise that doesn’t crash into fire trucks. Oh and 80% of GM vehicles don’t have to be fixed after immediately coming off the production line.
  
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- EBFlex on Sep 13, 2018
  
  @akear Completely false. GM makes money. Tesla has not made one penny of profit since they first started. You don’t turn a profit if you’re not selling automobiles. GM turns out infinitely more vehicles, in a factory (not a circus tent) with correct door panels, and radar guided cruise that doesn’t crash into fire trucks. Oh and 80% of GM vehicles don’t have to be fixed after immediately coming off the production line.
  
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EBFlex on Sep 13, 2018

And here I thought it was the incredibly arrogant pot head CEO who is in way over his head and doesn’t have the first clue as to how to manufacture a vehicle. Low and behold it’s the colors silver and black. This will fix all of the quality issues, panel gaps, bursting into flames, and the jihad against fire trucks.

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