What Would Happen If Apple Controlled Tesla?

An outside observer might believe the ongoing smear that has plagued Tesla for the past two years: the company is spending money at an unsustainable rate, and as a consequence, will soon be unable to fund operations. That’s nonsense, but it is true that the company’s spending on physical plant, R&D, infrastructure development, and new models is putting some strain on Tesla’s ability to raise funding in the capital markets.

At the same time, rumors (and nothing more) about Tesla as an acquisition target surface on a regular basis. None is more intriguing than the rumor that Apple may have an interest in acquiring Tesla.
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Dexter1 - 5/30/2019 2:27:37 PM

-3 Boost

It would be white and overpriced with no input for headphones.

bw5011 - 5/30/2019 3:43:05 PM

-3 Boost

And you would start getting half a charge and loss of power because of an update that they say helps you by cutting it by 50%... not to worry though, they will sell you a battery at a discount rate. smh

Car4life1 - 5/30/2019 7:37:43 PM

+6 Boost

I get this site's devotion to Elon but can we cut down on the Tesla Porn some, im soon gonna have the same urge to vomit as I do when you report the Kartrashians

vdiv - 5/30/2019 11:41:02 PM

-2 Boost

The Tesla Porn brings in the fagioli. What would the Tesla haters do if it disappears? Don't bite the hand that feeds you ;)

Car4life1 - 5/31/2019 12:43:00 AM

0 Boost

I’m biting because I can’t figure out wats worst the redundant Tesla Comments or Articles LOL

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 5/30/2019 3:51:24 PM

+1 Boost

CEO's do strange things. Not sure about boards and executive groups. If one guy owned Apple today and liked the idea of owning Tesla it could happen. Sitting on 300B USD is only so much fun. The need cash in a big way and Apple has lots of it.

malba2367 - 5/30/2019 3:58:44 PM

0 Boost

Apple has enough pressure to innovate right now in light of declining smartphone sales. The last thing they need is the distraction of running an automaker and even more so trying to fix the manufacturing processes of Tesla.

MDarringer - 5/30/2019 4:11:12 PM

+3 Boost

The BS of the sales model would go away in a heartbeat. Quality would have to increase exponentially.

mre30 - 5/30/2019 4:47:33 PM

+3 Boost

If Apple controlled Tesla, you could buy an "unlocked" one in the Bowery/Lower East Side at 1/2 price and get it repaired anywhere you wanted.

ricks0me - 5/30/2019 5:13:08 PM

+3 Boost

What Would Happen If Apple Controlled Tesla?

With all due respect to the posted answers, the correct answer is that Musk would be out of a job ... quicker than you can recharge a Tesla

MDarringer - 5/30/2019 6:23:05 PM

+3 Boost

Musk like Barra is inept and needs to be driven out.

vdiv - 5/30/2019 11:44:07 PM

0 Boost

You know, Musk wouldn't be all too sad if he cashes out, say a cool $10B to invest in his other hobbies. But it should be clear by now, he is not doing any of this for money.

vdiv - 5/30/2019 11:47:05 PM

-2 Boost

Dunno Matt, how is GM's electric vehicle program going?

MDarringer - 5/31/2019 8:12:26 AM

+2 Boost

GM's electric program perfectly demonstrates that Barra is incompetent.

Truthy - 5/30/2019 5:36:17 PM

+5 Boost

The author's assumption that Tesla spending money at an unsustainable rate is laughable.
This is well documented and a big reason for the capital raise recently. Their stock is languishing exactly because it is hard to see a way forward that will generate enough revenue to be self sustainable.

PUGPROUD - 5/30/2019 7:01:20 PM

+3 Boost

Acquiring a business that chews up huge amounts of cash, is not currently profitable and if it ever is has miniscule margins and returns compared to your core business is considered a good idea... really! Oh did I fail to mention its run by an egomaniac who is highly emotional, unstructured and a toke head.

MDarringer - 5/30/2019 9:56:57 PM

+3 Boost

Elon missed his window of opportunity. He needed to sell it while it was new and magical rather than now when it's a bleeding money pit. Best advice: wait for bankruptcy and grab the pieces.

mre30 - 5/31/2019 8:54:27 AM

+1 Boost

...that's why investors who specialize in restructurings are called "vulture funds": they pick at the pieces and get the best ones, leaving the worthless carcass behind.

I wonder what are the best pieces of Tesla that vultures would get first and what would be left in the worthless carcass? Thoughts?

ricks0me - 5/30/2019 10:21:26 PM

+1 Boost

Matt: I'm with you on that "window of opportunity" post

skytop - 5/30/2019 11:16:19 PM

-1 Boost

Based on all the ongoing defects and problems of my iPhone X, I believe that Apple would make a big mess of Tesla. I have NO CONFIDENCE in Apple anymore.

vdiv - 5/30/2019 11:49:46 PM

0 Boost

Is it even possible to make a bigger mess than it already is? ;)
If we're talking about the Apple of Steve Jobs it could have been a miracle for Tesla. The Apple of Tim Cook? It spells death for the EV maker.

malba2367 - 5/31/2019 11:57:29 AM

+2 Boost

@vdiv...you are totally wrong. Tim Cook is an operations expert, if any auto outsider could figure out how to build cars in an efficient manner it is him. The thing is that it is a huge distraction from apples core business and I can’t see them trying to get involved in this mess.

vdiv - 6/1/2019 12:47:48 AM

+1 Boost

Distraction is good in Tim Cook's Apple if it is making them money, i.e. Apple is becoming a cable/entertainment company, while abandoning their core Mac business.

Truthy - 5/31/2019 12:56:00 PM

0 Boost

If I were an Apple shareholder I would be livid if Cook purchased Tesla. What would Apple get? Unique technology? Nope.
Strong balance sheet? Big nope. Stable management? Nope.

countguy - 5/31/2019 1:01:11 PM

-2 Boost

They would become overpriced crap that posers buy because of the badge, oh wait..