Tesla's Elon Musk Throws SHADE At Apple And Ford — WHICH Is He MORE On Point About?

During a podcast that published today, Tesla's Elon Musk simply couldn't help himself. That's right. Musk is at it again.

This time he decided to express his opinions regarding Apple and Ford.

While it's not much of a surprise that Musk went after Ford, it is a bit perplexing why he decided to bring Apple into the conversation. Ford and Tesla have traded jabs previously, and it's been an ongoing feud.

And I can see why Musk brings up Ford. I don't see why Ford would even entertain Musk's color commentary.

First, Musk noted that Apple hasn't exactly been blowing people's minds lately. This is something I've discussed with Agent 001 previously. Essentially, it's become very iterative in its changes to product. There hasn't been a debut that really was a game changer since the late Steve Jobs was around.

Second, Musk turned his twin-barrelled gun towards Ford. While discussing how incredibly difficult the auto industry was to operate within, he capped it off noted that he believes there's a good chance that Ford does not make it past the next recession.

Definitely a bold claim.

That said, I've got to ask: WHICH criticism is Musk MORE RIGHT about? Is Musk nailing it with Apple or Ford? Perhaps Both? Maybe neither? What say you?

“Apple used to really bring out products that would blow people’s minds,” Musk said on the Recode Decode podcast released Friday. “They still make great products, but there’s less of that. Like, I don’t think people are necessarily running to the store for the iPhone 11..."

...“There’s a good chance that Ford doesn’t make it in the next recession,” Musk said.

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MDarringer - 11/2/2018 9:47:19 PM

+5 Boost

Elon just needs to go the hell away. Tesla would be so much better off WITHOUT this monster.

SanJoseDriver - 11/5/2018 1:11:09 PM

+2 Boost

10Q is ready, only thing I read about it is they are still forecasting 10,000 Model 3s per week at some point in 2019 as well as 3,000 Model 3s per week in Gigafactory 3 (China) by the end of the year--likely all will be handbuilt like the Fremont tent. Don't think anything is wrong with that, mine was built in the tent and it came out flawless minus a blinker problem and a software issue resolved over the phone.

PUGPROUD - 11/3/2018 5:52:46 AM

+6 Boost

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"...Socrates. Musk could use a little wisdom to go with his ambition and to stay out of trouble.

MDarringer - 11/3/2018 9:37:07 AM

+5 Boost

Bullseye

ricks0me - 11/3/2018 1:46:52 PM

+4 Boost

All Of The Above !!!

ColMosby - 11/3/2018 5:36:38 PM

-1 Boost

A recent analysis of Tesla's misdleading financial statements claimsTesla didn't actually make a profit this quarter. Certainly. including ZEV credit sales as "profits" is pretty stupid - $52 million dollars stupid. Tesla's problem these days is finding people who can afford Tesla's $59,000 "$35,000" Model 3 so that they don't lose money. Steve Jobs created new products, Elon Musk is building electric cars, which have been around for 100 years. He has yet to build a mas market affordable electric car and the competiiton is getting rave reviews and they all have their $7500 tax credits and lower sticker prices was well. Tesla is doomed, doomed, doomed. Only Elon Musk is not aware of this.

SanJoseDriver - 11/5/2018 1:15:09 PM

+2 Boost

That is utter BS. How do you take $320 million of net profit, subtract $52 million of ZEV credits, and say there is no profit this quarter? Even without the credits they would be profitable (and they got $0 in credits in Q2).

You're behind the times if you think they are doomed. They have a solid brand and a quickly growing base of consumers that love their products. Highest customer satisfaction of any company right now, despite all the bumps in the road (and there have been many as we all agree).

MrEE - 11/3/2018 5:58:38 PM

+2 Boost

Ford is certainly headed to be smaller in the future and likely to exit European market. Probably survival via merger.
Apple really has only had 3 big marketing innovations; Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone, though all under Jobs.

MDarringer - 11/3/2018 9:22:26 PM

+1 Boost

The European market has massive overcapacity. GM did the right thing to ditch Opel to the idiots in France who themselves have ridiculous overcapacity and wanted to buy a brand to exacerbate it.

A Ford/VW merger is a good idea so long as VW isn't in control.

I'd love to see Apple do a Chromebook for the irony of it all.

delan - 11/4/2018 7:45:27 AM

+2 Boost

...not to get into minutiae, but shade is a subtle jab at someone where they have to think twice if they were just insulted. There was nothing subtle about Musks comments.

SanJoseDriver - 11/5/2018 1:17:15 PM

+1 Boost

Jabs are not necessary, doesn't help his cause at all. Ford is the one legacy US automaker I hope is successful and survives.

malba2367 - 11/6/2018 1:42:55 PM

+1 Boost

Tesla would be a prime merger target if it weren’t for Elon’s antics. The guy is a renegade and he has proven he is impossible to “manage”. It is only a matter of time before shareholders revolt and throw him out.

SanJoseDriver - 11/7/2018 12:55:41 AM

+1 Boost

I listened to the whole 80min interview today, didn't sound intended as a jab. The context was how difficult it was to run a car company, he also said it is astonishing that Tesla survived given all of the challenges in an entrenched industry. There were some unreported bits of info in the interview:

1.) They are now working on having Autopilot recognize stop signs and traffic lights. That will enable Autopilot on city streets. (It already handles freeway interchanges like a pro from testing it last two days)
2.) The UI for full self driving is already done and is live today in all Teslas with the latest release. All that was really required was a button called "Nav on Autopilot"
3.) They will do an eBike at some point. No motorcycles since the chance of death is 25 times higher than cars.

As a sidenote, on the commute home today I drove through a construction zone while Nav on Autopilot was on, it recognized it eliminated the lanes with cones from the UI and popped up a warning message. This was definitely not in the last release, surprise feature that I haven't read about anywhere.