Anyone arguing that the vision is what the company does more than what *actually* does is likely someone that lost big on crypto project ICOs where there was nothing but vision 😂...since with no easily recallable exceptions, none *actually* did anything but rug pull 😃
For future analysis, does Tesla do better once Musk is no longer the face of a car company? I assume it will outlast him so there will be a before and after to compare.
Great post! I'm very pleased to see that there are still like-minded people out there who take a sober view of Tesla and identify it for what it is, a car manufacturer.
Toyota vs Tesla hmm Craig Irwin saying Toyota has everything Tesla has is interesting-why would people buy a Model Y over a BZX... Lots of reasons -software charging network, commitment to BEV etc they really are very different-drive both for 30 days. AP and FSD are not done yet but much better than version 1. Has any other car company sold software? Acceleration boost, enhanced AP or FSD - Anyway -discount away but the 2 companies are not the same and the products are very different-I have owned 3 Prius cars and 4 Tesla so far-I am not ever going back to Toyota imho -will see
I hear ya, James. And as always appreciate your comments and support. In this case, let's not lose site of what business Tesla is in: In the car business. And make no mistake - it has done a phenomenal job. Where I live, every other car is a Tesla. (No exaggeration, it seems.) But the key point of my piece is how they make their money. As for the rest, it's beyond my pay grade but my pal @KCR Equity Research below has forgotten more about autos than most of us have know, so I defer to him on this. You can take what he writes on the auto industry to the bank. Happy New Year!
The primary reason other companies have been slow to roll out over-air updates is that they can create serious safety risks both because they are being rushed out and due to the built in cyber vulnerabilities. Citing their charging network - built with enormous direct and indirect subsidies from taxpayers - as a differentiating factor, still does not put them in the AI business. Particularly since these charging stations have to now become open-sourced and available to all other OEMs. They are the electric equivalent of being in the gas station business. Even if we agree that over air software and owning charging stations are positive differentiators from other OEMs, that does not address Mr. Greenberg's clear observation that the company is still very much a car company.
What’s the header picture of? That’s not a robot, is it? We can argue about the current and future importance of AI, but Tesla is absolutely a robotics company. They design, build and operate robots that make cars. It’s like saying google isn’t a software company because they actually sell ad space.
Of course, I could've used one of the photos of humans on the assembly line, but liked this one better! We'll have to agree to disagree. Tesla sells cars, not AI or robotics. Happy New Year.
Car companies have been building cars with robots for decades. This is nothing new. Visit Honda's plant in Marysville Ohio. It is a marvel of automation, robotics, and green manufacturing - complete with water recycling (including runoff water from their parking lots!) to energy efficiency breakthroughs and a fully automated paint shop that has been in operation since early 2006. I do not own stock in Honda and am not affiliated with them in any way.
I’m curious there’s any way to isolate the value Tesla has captured by fighting against using car dealerships.
Anyone arguing that the vision is what the company does more than what *actually* does is likely someone that lost big on crypto project ICOs where there was nothing but vision 😂...since with no easily recallable exceptions, none *actually* did anything but rug pull 😃
Terrific post to kick off the new year, Herb. Praying for your comments section when the zealots read it😂
For future analysis, does Tesla do better once Musk is no longer the face of a car company? I assume it will outlast him so there will be a before and after to compare.
"self-driving cars"....how they still get away with this BS is beyond me. They're not even the leader in driver assist technology.
Ah c’mon give us a little hint about what will be rearing it’s head soon.
🙊🤐
Great post! I'm very pleased to see that there are still like-minded people out there who take a sober view of Tesla and identify it for what it is, a car manufacturer.
Toyota vs Tesla hmm Craig Irwin saying Toyota has everything Tesla has is interesting-why would people buy a Model Y over a BZX... Lots of reasons -software charging network, commitment to BEV etc they really are very different-drive both for 30 days. AP and FSD are not done yet but much better than version 1. Has any other car company sold software? Acceleration boost, enhanced AP or FSD - Anyway -discount away but the 2 companies are not the same and the products are very different-I have owned 3 Prius cars and 4 Tesla so far-I am not ever going back to Toyota imho -will see
I hear ya, James. And as always appreciate your comments and support. In this case, let's not lose site of what business Tesla is in: In the car business. And make no mistake - it has done a phenomenal job. Where I live, every other car is a Tesla. (No exaggeration, it seems.) But the key point of my piece is how they make their money. As for the rest, it's beyond my pay grade but my pal @KCR Equity Research below has forgotten more about autos than most of us have know, so I defer to him on this. You can take what he writes on the auto industry to the bank. Happy New Year!
The primary reason other companies have been slow to roll out over-air updates is that they can create serious safety risks both because they are being rushed out and due to the built in cyber vulnerabilities. Citing their charging network - built with enormous direct and indirect subsidies from taxpayers - as a differentiating factor, still does not put them in the AI business. Particularly since these charging stations have to now become open-sourced and available to all other OEMs. They are the electric equivalent of being in the gas station business. Even if we agree that over air software and owning charging stations are positive differentiators from other OEMs, that does not address Mr. Greenberg's clear observation that the company is still very much a car company.
The 10-K does not explain PERCEPTION .... - just found this video as an example ...
https://youtu.be/_EqGqEpOV3o
What’s the header picture of? That’s not a robot, is it? We can argue about the current and future importance of AI, but Tesla is absolutely a robotics company. They design, build and operate robots that make cars. It’s like saying google isn’t a software company because they actually sell ad space.
When Tesla makes most of its revenue selling car assembly bots to other car makers, you'll be right.
So far for most companies, AI is a tool used to further production of their main product.
Of course, I could've used one of the photos of humans on the assembly line, but liked this one better! We'll have to agree to disagree. Tesla sells cars, not AI or robotics. Happy New Year.
Car companies have been building cars with robots for decades. This is nothing new. Visit Honda's plant in Marysville Ohio. It is a marvel of automation, robotics, and green manufacturing - complete with water recycling (including runoff water from their parking lots!) to energy efficiency breakthroughs and a fully automated paint shop that has been in operation since early 2006. I do not own stock in Honda and am not affiliated with them in any way.
Another great blog Mr. Greenberg, Fear & Greed is a condition, NOT a signal to buy or sell.
Totally agree with your comments on Tesla.