Did Tesla's Announcements Yesterday Make HISTORY Or Is It The GREATEST Kickstarter Campaign, Ever?

Yesterday night was a big one for anyone in the transportation industry. That's because, simply put, the head honcho of Tesla, Elon Musk, revealed not one but two products.

And they both have the potential to be game changers in two completely different ways.

REVEALED: Tesla SEMI and Tesla Roadster

With the reveal of an all-new Tesla SEMI, the electric vehicle manufacturer is looking to change the inefficiencies experienced with diesel haulers. Slated to hit production in 2019, it seems pretty quick for a company that's still having difficulty hitting its forecasted production for the Model 3 sedan — you know, the vehicle that is needed to help shore up the operation's financial mess.

While folks may have tuned in for the SEMI reveal, the reality is no one cared about it after the all-new Roadster appeared for the very first time. The high-performance two-door coupe seats four but you'd never know it. That's because the thing does zero to 60 in 1.9 seconds. Well, that's the goal at least. What was shown last night is merely a concept and the figures Musk mentioned are merely goals the company is striving for.

After looking at the information, images and deck, I have to say that I am torn on the whole shebang. A part of me feels like this may be history in the making and the end of internal combustion engines is in sight. Hell, Musk finally came clean and owned it already — he wants to put an end to ICEs, forever. On the flip side; however, I couldn't get over the rather slimey ask for $50,000 to reserve a Roadster that's said to be due out in 2020. Given the Model 3's timelines, I'd say it'll be more like 2022 and that's if the factory builds the damn things right and there's no bottlenecks to speak of. A part of me felt like I had just watched the greatest Kickstarter campaign, ever.

So, Spies. What do YOU make of it? Was Tesla's big announcements the making of HISTORY or merely the greatest SHOW on Earth?

REVEALED: Tesla SEMI and Tesla Roadster

SanJoseDriver - 11/18/2017 2:30:38 AM

-6 Boost

Epic history, reminds me of when the Model S was announced and its specs blew away anyone's expectations of what an EV could do. The Roadster shows an EV can do everything better than an ICE, including range. I hope they make a more affordable version someday based on the Model 3.

Dexter1 - 11/18/2017 6:43:57 AM

+1 Boost

Sleek. Fast. Beautifully designed. Love how it looks. It's a shame the only sound you'll hear is tire noise.

TomM - 11/18/2017 7:02:49 AM

+2 Boost

Cadillac has made HUGE Splashes - when it introduced a number of cars -Including the El Miraj, the Ciel, and the Escala. Virtually everyone except DeNysschen wanted one - but they NEVER produced them. Worse - they continued to release cars like the CT6 with the now outdated Arts and Science Styling. AND people have tired of that - it has been out TOO long.

Tesla will actually have to produce these cars in appropriate Volumes before I will care. IF it takes them as long to bring the Roadster to the market as it has for their other cars - THIS time - others will be in the market as well.

AS far as the Truck - there is still question as to whether it can replace long distance haulers - and at the same time - when USING the actual Electric charges of URBAN areas - which tend to be higher - the Diesel truck is still the leader here - and it has full infrastructure support - which is critical in short haul truck industry.

Until we actually have the SOLAR production of Electricity - EVs will just be another option on the table - AND - truckers are still loyal to their truck manufacturers far more than car buyers are. It will take a massive effort to change over - and that assumes they get to produce them. SO far - the numbers of truck ordered is small - and of course -they are just deposits.

Now - if the Congress eliminates the EV tax incentive - the question will be - how many are willing to buy the EVS at the about 20% higher effective price - and will TEsla survive (Ie - did they price the Model 3 high enough to make money)

TomM - 11/18/2017 7:02:49 AM

+1 Boost

Hauerg - 11/19/2017 3:51:45 PM

+1 Boost

Your last § does not make sense.

SanJoseDriver - 11/19/2017 6:31:23 PM

-4 Boost

Remember, the EV incentive was always going to be for 200k cars. Model 3 was designed under the assumption of no incentives. I think it is a pretty compelling car for $35k or even $40k with the premium upgrades. Target margin is 25%, so there is probably still 15% margin on the base model when it hits fully production.

MDarringer - 11/18/2017 10:39:32 AM

+1 Boost

This will go down in history as a the greatest automotive shit storm moment. The narcissistic pied piper doing an emperor's new clothes moment for all his rainbow unicorn sycophants. That's all it was.

abqhudson - 11/18/2017 1:02:40 PM

+3 Boost

Sounds like a pyramid scheme to me.
P.T. Barnum would have been proud - there is a sucker born every minute.

ColMosby - 11/19/2017 8:46:47 AM

+2 Boost

Tesla's roadster is not a roadster, a fact which only one out of two dozen "auto analysts" noticed. It is also not the "fastest production car on the planet" since it is not in produciton and when it is, there will likely be several electric sports cars that can easily match its performance, the Porsche Mission e being a likely candidate, although I'm not certain any automaker would be dumb enough to allow their car to exceed even 150 MPH (except Tesla) , due to insurance and corporate liabilities. Like Tesla needs more lawsuits against it.

SanJoseDriver - 11/19/2017 6:32:46 PM

-5 Boost

Mission E will never be able to hit 1.9s due to its weight and size. It would need a different platform.

mini22 - 11/21/2017 9:40:46 PM

+1 Boost

Musk is the consummate bull-shiter with a strong inkling of reality. He is changing the industry.4 to 5 years from now we will have battery technology where they will be light weight get 300 to 400 miles before a re-charge and be able to recharge 80% in less than 10 minutes. Then its just a matter of bringing the cost down to the masses. Once this occurs the combustion engine shelf life will be limited. EV's cannot be just a city car. They have to be a car for duel purposes city and long distance. As for Tesla's sports car if the roadster misses its 0-60 1.9 second mark will people really care? Suppose it takes 2.5 seconds to 60 do you really think people will feel that short changed. I seriously doubt it. My only problem with EV's are that they are too quiet. I think they out to pipe the original engine sounds and allow deliberately a little driveline vibration. So a if you order the sound option on a Porsche Mission E you can have your 911 engine sound and vibration and at the same time drive the perfect carbon footprint. I want to also see the technology so you can convert your old Mercedes 108 280 SEL with an EV engine or even Porsche 914 etc.