SHOTS FIRED! Ford Exec MOCKS Tesla Hitting Model 3 Production Milestone — Are They Onto Something Or Is This A BAD Look For F?

SHOTS FIRED! Ford Exec MOCKS Tesla Hitting Model 3 Production Milestone — Are They Onto Something Or Is This A BAD Look For F?
This past week, a member of Ford's European leadership team mocked Tesla's latest milestone — hitting 5,000 Model 3's produced in a week. This is a moment that many have been waiting for; however, according to reports it was only accomplished under great duress.

After Tesla's Elon Musk likened Ford's operations to that of a morgue, Ford has fired back not once but twice now.

It kind of reminds me of the pissing match between President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un going back and forth with nuclear button talk.

But, there could be a greater point here: Is Ford just not getting it? I mean, in its first response it talked about how many F-150s come off the production line, which seems to be a rather silly comparison. Also, who's Musk to judge anyone's operations? Honestly, it's pretty pathetic to have to resort to erecting a 200-yard tent in order to meet your goals. I understand the "get things done at all costs" mentality but are they shipping a game changing great electric vehicle or a minimum viable product (MVP)? If my chief engineer just packed his bags and I was in a distressed financial situation, I don't think I'd be throwing stones in my glass house.

So, what say YOU, Spies? Is Ford onto something? Is Musk making sense? Whose side are YOU on?


Tesla’s latest production milestone has been surprisingly controversial. Tesla employees and enthusiasts have been celebrating it while Wall Street is doubting the significance of it.

Ford is adding itself to the conversation by somewhat mocking Tesla’s Model 3 production achievement by comparing it with its own manufacturing capacity.

Are they looking at it the right way...

 

 


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MDarringerMDarringer - 7/7/2018 10:02:53 AM
+4 Boost
Ford will pummel Tesla.


EVisNowEVisNow - 7/7/2018 12:18:15 PM
-1 Boost
I don't think Musk criticized Ford truck factory. He just described the state of the company and employee moraleat the affected car factories. It's a jab from Musk but clearly Ford was ticked. Who has the thin skin now ?

If Henry Ford came back to life, he'll probably fire the entire executive team, and his own descendant.


Agent00RAgent00R - 7/7/2018 8:24:12 PM
+1 Boost
Correct. Musk just made a blanket statement.


TheSteveTheSteve - 7/7/2018 1:28:10 PM
0 Boost
This isn't the first time Tesla announced production numbers that were attained in a dubious manner, strictly for PR purposes. Actually, every time they've made a big deal of production numbers, they've been dubious, and weren't sustainable for a long time to follow.

Is anyone unclear about this?


TomMTomM - 7/7/2018 7:20:43 PM
+2 Boost
Ford is now producing 2-3 times that 5000 number of Ford Pick Ups RIGHT NOW - and I would suspect even the BASE model is more profitable than a Model 3. THAT is why I do not understand why they Value Tesla so high and Ford so low - still Musk - in criticizing FORD - is out of his league.


Agent00RAgent00R - 7/7/2018 8:25:13 PM
0 Boost
Speculation and people's need to believe in something bigger...

All the big money on The Street is short TSLA.


mre30mre30 - 7/8/2018 8:06:55 AM
+8 Boost
The Ford exec should put out a "profit per vehicle line" TWEET - I doubt there are many volume Ford vehicle lines that consistently generate losses over long periods of time.

The F150/250/350 clearly generate boatloads of cash - Ford's "car" line that they are cancelling is probably more profitable on a per vehicle basis than anything Tesla offers.


CANADIANCOMMENTSCANADIANCOMMENTS - 7/8/2018 11:59:29 AM
0 Boost
The whole exchange violates a key rule in sales. Never badmouth your competition. It only reflects poorly on you, your product and your firm. Stay focused on your own business and let the competition do and say what it wants. The ascending path always leads to a better outcome.


MDarringerMDarringer - 7/8/2018 12:12:59 PM
+2 Boost
Where in hell did you get that idiotic idea from? In the auto industry, the NORM is to badmouth the competition. Clearly you went to hit yoga this morning.


vdivvdiv - 7/8/2018 12:49:09 PM
0 Boost
I found it amusing on both ends. What's bad for Ford is not that they fired back, that was cute, but that they still just don't get it.


MDarringerMDarringer - 7/8/2018 12:50:08 PM
+5 Boost
Tesla is spinning out of control. Ford isn't. Ford gets it. Tesla doesn't.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 7/10/2018 11:18:40 AM
0 Boost
Agree badmouthing your competition looks bad (yup I'm not a fan when Elon Musk does it either). I remember at some point Lexus salespeople were trained to never badmouth a competing car. People should focus on making their own product better versus bashing other products.

When it comes to Ford vs. Tesla, they have one thing in common. They are the only two US car companies that have never declared bankruptcy. Ford is established and profitable, but stagnant. Tesla is growing quickly and has yet to prove itself financially. I hope both are successful, although my money is on Tesla long-term. I would invest in the S&P 500 if I wanted to play it safe--at this point I'd rather go for higher risk, higher reward.


dumpstydumpsty - 7/8/2018 1:50:07 PM
+1 Boost
When corporate execs trade verbal jabs via (whatever) social media it's basic drama. No ethical issues. Doesn't even mean anything to the professional side of things (financials, industry, etc). It's only the consumers & pundit media outlets that see these comments then go to form assumptions & other silly opinions based on the initial silliness. The EV is the future of the auto industry & Tesla is making it work. A GM, Ford, VW could do the same thing cheaper/faster/more efficiently...so it's kinda safe to assume Tesla is a (real) future buyout target.

Had Musk said Tesla hit 5k/week production - in a planned, scheduled manner in a solid assembly facility - that would've been real (positive) industry news. Instead, we know Tesla needed to construction (temporary) tension fabric structures a.k.a. tents to meet the milestones. That's a reason to worry a lil bit.


MDarringerMDarringer - 7/8/2018 3:32:10 PM
+1 Boost
The history of the automotive world is replete with auto executives badmouthing other companies and you are correct. It is all about "show" and drama.

It's how business is done and has always been done.

In some key ways, Musk is very much like Iacocca.

Cue the arrogant, I-want-to-appear-more-moral-than-you-even-as-I-do-the-opposite-of-what-I-say-you-shouldn't-do post by posters who need to drop their pants and should all over everything.

3....2...1...


CANADIANCOMMENTSCANADIANCOMMENTS - 7/8/2018 7:31:36 PM
+1 Boost
@MD- Classic Iacocca. BTW how many posters won't even know who you are referencing?


MDarringerMDarringer - 7/8/2018 8:40:02 PM
0 Boost
@CC Those who do not read very much. I'm actually a pretty voracious reader.


hangtime010hangtime010 - 7/9/2018 10:43:32 AM
+1 Boost
I doubt we'll ever see Elon in a commercial, he'll only be on the news (mostly BNN).


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 7/10/2018 11:20:20 AM
-1 Boost
Tesla and Space X do not advertise, so you will likely never see him in a commercial.


SanJoseDriverSanJoseDriver - 7/11/2018 11:46:10 AM
+1 Boost
Contrary to what you may believe, Tesla wouldn't waste money on something like that. Their marketing budget is literally nothing. Check their SEC filings.


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