Do The Companies That Think They Will Overtake Tesla SOON Have MUSK DERANGEMENT SYNDROME?

It’s a pretty amazing time to be Tesla, folks. It was not so long ago that the Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle manufacturer was considered one of many laughing stocks in the automotive world.

It seemed as though the whole media empire was against them. That’s because, for the most part, it was.

Fast forward to the present. Tesla is outselling many of the luxury automakers. And, here’s the kicker: They’d be moving MORE if it weren’t for production hang ups.

This is an impressive achievement for any automaker, let alone a relatively new player. Tesla has effectively disrupted the EV game. Clearly, there’s much to be worked out over at Tesla. First and foremost, the vehicles have to obtain better build quality and reliability. Secondly, perhaps the company should find a better operational leader.

Musk has the Steve Jobs visionary factor but the operational side is lacking, to say the least.

Over the past 12 months it’s become fairly evident that Tesla produces the benchmark EV. And, much like BMW owned driving dynamics at one point, it too has become the target everyone wants to outgun.

Having said that, there’s been recent posts we’ve seen from industry colleagues proclaiming that Audi, Chevrolet and Jaguar are going to turn the tables on Tesla. Given the brand, range per charge and speed, it seems like Tesla has the upper hand.

What say you, Spies? Will cars like the Bolt, e-tron SUV and I-Pace unseat Tesla’s latest and greatest? Or, do these manufacturers have MUSK DERANGEMENT SYNDROME?

610looper - 9/19/2018 2:34:27 AM

+9 Boost

What is Musk Derangement Syndrome?? Not listed in Merriam-Webster. Competition is good, but the big 3 German and Japanese have already spoken on the current lack of electric infrastructure and the expense...vs current fuel prices. So, I don't think anyone is deranged, but the pot smoker who's fixated on pedophilia.

PUGPROUD - 9/19/2018 2:34:50 AM

+2 Boost

First adopters have and will go for Tesla but I tend to believe most other buyers as they enter the mass EV's market for the first time will buy from brands they trust, have experience with or are within their price (lower) range. The next few years of side by side road tests will reveal a full array of advantages and shortcomings between the brands that should significantly influence purchase trends. I greatly suspect that when offered choices first time buyers will do thorough research before taking the leap into a whole new, expensive and different ownership experience.

senft - 9/19/2018 7:10:11 AM

+7 Boost

Maybe! Or maybe, as another post here says, the market still isn't interested. But then the question is whether given Tesla's failure to be profitable and to survive after ~15 years -- without resorting to financial tricks, will they even survive notwithstanding being the only EV people (allegedly) want.
OTOH, the coming political reality of mileage requirements and environmental issues (Hi, Beijing!), it's not like the manufacturers outside of niche marques -- maybe -- can stick with ICEs regardless of the market.

MDarringer - 9/19/2018 8:15:27 AM

+4 Boost

No. They just know how to do it right. #TeslaIsTrash

Hauerg - 9/19/2018 3:57:26 PM

-1 Boost

#MDarringerIsTrash

(And needs to prove this every other day.)

MDarringer - 9/19/2018 7:14:43 PM

+2 Boost

You are soooo clever! Email me when you get out of Kindergarten.

ricks0me - 9/19/2018 8:49:58 AM

+8 Boost

If I was in the business of EV MFG, I would do the best job that I could without mentioning the names of Tesla or Musk. Two names that I do not want to be associated with.

To the Alt Left Socialist out there: The Free Market always decides through competition and not who smokes weed on TV so put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!

TomM - 9/19/2018 12:44:42 PM

+8 Boost

You mean to tell me that there are actually real car manufacturers that - when entering a segment of sales that they previously were not involved in - actually produce cars and compare them to the cars that are already in that segment - NO - can't be. That would indicate intelligence - and we ALL know that does not exist in this industry among the mass marketers?

greGARYous1 - 9/19/2018 1:03:30 PM

+6 Boost

Tesla is under attack from multiple fronts and without Billions $$$ in New funding is in trouble... Facts:
1) SuperCharger advantage goes away in 2019 when the Electrify America network phase-I is complete with 1000 fastchargers within 70 miles of you.
2) Gov't $7500 EV subsidy goes away for Tesla but not most of the competition.
3) Giga factory is a high fixed cost mistake when new battery tech emerges.

So Tesla is in for a new marketplace within the next few years that is not to its advantage... Short tsla because best days are over!

Hauerg - 9/19/2018 3:58:12 PM

-2 Boost

??

vdiv - 9/19/2018 7:55:57 PM

-4 Boost

1) Have you tried using an EA charger? It's a nightmare. They have their job cut out for them, not much to show for in two years. In two years Tesla had installed over 300 supercharger locations.
2) It's not a subsidy it's a fokken tax credit, your income tax obligation needs to cover it first to be eligible. Besides it's worth just a paint color and dual motor, the car is perfectly fine with or without it.
3) Factories get retrofitted all the time, you still need the infrastructure and facility. Who else has that to built batteries at scale?

bw5011 - 9/22/2018 9:00:52 PM

+2 Boost

Companies like Audi and others already have the dealerships in place and will be able to provide better sales and support experiences. As long as they put a product that performs good, has good range and looks good, it will sale good and in my opinion outperform the smaller Telsa.

MDarringer - 9/22/2018 9:54:39 PM

+1 Boost

MANY premium dealers have strong relationships with their customers and many of those customers would never thing of paying full price for a car at a showroom and then have to wait for the car...a car that can only be serviced and repaired at the mothership. It's only idiot millennials who think that paying full price is getting a bargain.

I think the Porsche Taycan will be an out-of-the-ballpark success.

The Tesla Model 3 is a massive step in the wrong direction. A small crossover and an emergency replacement of the Model X that ditches the pigeon doors would have been a better move as would be a new S.

Tesla will really be the AMC of the EV world when all is said and done.