Will Elon Musk's Insatiable Drive Ultimately Bring Down Tesla?

For five days this summer, Tesla survived without Elon Musk on the factory floor. He attended his brother's wedding in Spain and took his kids to Belfast so they could see the set of "Game of Thrones."

Yet when the wedding came up during a recent New York Times interview, the trip was described as a quick dash in and out. Musk lamented having barely enough time to savor the moment, with the newspaper reporting that he arrived two hours before the ceremony and returned to Tesla's factory immediately after. (Bloomberg News pieced together the details of his trip from Musk's tweets and flight data.)

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PUGPROUD - 8/22/2018 8:40:47 AM

+5 Boost

Yes, next question?

MDarringer - 8/22/2018 8:52:27 AM

+3 Boost

It already has.

TomM - 8/22/2018 10:18:39 AM

+3 Boost

The very basic business model that Tesla has will bring it down - not Musk himself.

WE already know that there will be LOTS of competition from many manufacturers within the next two years - when Tesla will have several disadvantages

1 - The competitors will have tax credits that Tesla will have already run out on
2 - THe competitors will have LOTS of available outlets for the cars - and far more service centers available as well. Service will not require long distance tows that often does with Tesla - remembering that Tesla STILL has reused access to it computer systems -when the system disables the car it MUST go to a dealer - no one else can reset the system.

3 - The Dealers of the competition will be free to NEGOTIATE price - something Tesla does not do right now - and unless Tesla changes that position - it will be at a major disadvantage there too.

4 - Lastly - THe Tesla line is getting old - and is due for more than a refreshing - while the Competition will be NEW to the market - and likely have more choices as well. Just when TESLA might be seeing the light at the end of the Tunnel - they will need NEW product.

SanJoseDriver - 8/22/2018 9:38:31 PM

+1 Boost

1.) Everyone will get their 200k cars. The advantage won't last forever.
2.) Tesla already has as many service centers in the US as several premium brands, plus remote service vans which are way more convenient than going to a service center (I used one for the first time this year, was great, airbags replaced in my company parking lot).
3.) At a dealership you negotiate the dealer's markup on the price, not the price itself. That is set by the manufacturer when it sells it to the dealer.
4.) The S needs an interior refresh for sure, surprisingly it hasn't hurt sales yet.

MDarringer - 8/22/2018 10:50:58 PM

0 Boost

This is 100% BS: "3.) At a dealership you negotiate the dealer's markup on the price, not the price itself. That is set by the manufacturer when it sells it to the dealer."

Negotiating off list price downward is negotiating the price itself, Felicia.

MDarringer - 8/22/2018 10:52:23 PM

0 Boost

Bad quality control, poor reliability, abysmal resale value, and getting cash raped at purchase will soon wear off.

The four-letter word Elon hates: AUDI.

skytop - 8/25/2018 12:28:09 AM

+1 Boost

Has Auto Spies turned in the Tesla Web News Nexus? There are over 10 articles about Tesla. What is going on with Spies??? Enough!

senft - 8/27/2018 1:56:11 PM

+1 Boost

One would like to think insatiable drive would involve hiring top level executives who know the business. Elon's failure and/or refusal to do isn't insatiable drive. But to do so might imply he isn't a superior human being and that he cannot do.