The WAIT Continues. Tesla's Elon Musk Admits It's About SIX Months Away From Producing A Base Model 3

"Musk knowingly took deposits of $7500" - where the fukk did you get this number ? The rest of your post is pure bullsh!t

@EVisNow It's public information

Actually - TEsla has admitted that it COULD manufacture the Model 3 Base model - BUT it could NOT actually make a profit at that price. TEsla - not having lots of other profitable cars to depend on - cannot afford to take the losses. SO yes - Tesla (not Musk) - has not only not made any of the base models - but they also have yet to actually come up with any FIRM delivery dates. Their problem - they projected the cost of Lithium would drop over time -instead supply became scarce - and Lithium prices are up.

If any other car manufacturer took money - and claimed they are delivering cars based on the deposit date - but have NEVER delivered a base model - this would have a congressional investigation. Not under this administration.

@FAQMD: "The deposits varied but the principle I espoused is still valid" - seriously ??

Fact: refundable deposit for the Model 3 was $1000 for reservation holder - this deposit is no longer required for new customer. The $2500 NON-refundable deposit is for firm order. Existing reservation holders will pay a total of $3500 to get their car built. New customer will only pay $2500. All amounts count toward down payment for the car.

People buying the Model 3 know full well how much the deposit is and are doing it at their own will. Who are you to say what they should do ? How much does Jaguar, Audi or Porsche ask for the deposit of their EV ? How about ordering any car from your dealer ?

Rather than accepting it as a mistake on your part, you are trying to cover it as your "principle". You have no principle. You are simply a liar and you get called out. Own it!

You see evil where in fact it was the only action any good business would do.

Vision: Produce a 35k base model.
Plan: Start the line with the most expensive cars so that you get a little bit of buffer margin wise. Once your get to know your product, that your suppliers are reliable, that your engine line is at cruising speed and that you have full control on your cost, then you can cut cut cut to a point where you are capable of delivering a 35k car.

If I ask anyone of you to produce 100 cupcakes and make money out of them, all of you will go to the grocery store, buy the ingredients, then set up your kitchen and cook for a day. You will divide the cost of your ingredients in 100, divide your 4 hours into 100 and your apartment and energy cost in 100. You will soon discover that in order to make money, you will need to sell them at 4$ each. You may want to sell them at 2$, because that's what the market is looking for but you just can't. Are you stupid or crooked because you sell your cupcakes 4$ each? No. You are just not set up accordingly. Yet...

For future cars, I hope they don't even communicate the prices of the cheaper options and just start selling the fully loaded performance cars first, then selling the less expensive ones when there is enough capacity and demand is mostly filled for the higher up model. The Model Y performance I think will be $75k and eventually drop the $40k for the base model. The truck will easily hit six figures at the top end and start maybe at $45-50k.

The reservation amount was $1000 which the majority put up. My experience is car dealers usually will ask a minimum $500 as a deposit. Probably too optimistic that the base could be 35k, 40k seems achievable at this point. Base models from most brands are extremely limited availability.