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A Couple Of Bolts Visit Tesla
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Nice story. Thanks for sharing.
I'm waiting for late next year for a Bolt with hopefully ACC and Nav. If Model 3 delays have them going well into 2018, then I would bet that an updated Bolt with ACC will pick up a bunch of potential Tesla buyers who get tired of waiting. Just a hunch...
I'm waiting for late next year for a Bolt with hopefully ACC and Nav. If Model 3 delays have them going well into 2018, then I would bet that an updated Bolt with ACC will pick up a bunch of potential Tesla buyers who get tired of waiting. Just a hunch...
Fun story but understand this is Tesla's SoCal design studio and not the HQ/assembly factory in NorCal/Fremont...So car designers are giving praise to the Bolt's packaging...
But overall say your an Android guy...If you own an Galaxy S7, when the Apple iPhone 7 was released, did you run down to the nearest overcrowded Apple store to check out your latest competition? No? You don't care? Same thing would probably happen here...
But overall say your an Android guy...If you own an Galaxy S7, when the Apple iPhone 7 was released, did you run down to the nearest overcrowded Apple store to check out your latest competition? No? You don't care? Same thing would probably happen here...
The only difference is, with Tesla (from Elon down), I'm pretty sure they'd be happy if every vehicle on the road was an EV. So seeing another manufacturer producing a >200 mile range EV is probably exciting to them as well.
Plus, Tesla still sees themselves as the luxury EV brand. They aren't likely to feel threatened or respond negatively until a company like BMW starts producing a 200-300 mile range 3 series EV.
Before the announcement of a Model 3, I would agree with you but now they are aiming for mid price level vehicles. With the M3 annoinced at a similar price point, then i'd have to agree with Bacardi. Car designers are a different group and are always interested in the competition for new ideas or verifying that there way is better.
We don't know what the future will bring, but I don't think that the Bolt and the Model 3 will ever compete with each other. I have a hard time imagining any trim level on the Model 3 coming in at under $45,000 to $50,000 (at least not for the first couple of years). By the time the Model 3 is available (assuming Tesla meets their production dates), I predict the Bolt's MSRP to be ~ $30,000 for the LT and < $35,000 for the Premier.
In addition, the format of the Bolt is different. It is a much more utilitarian vehicle with more usable room and cargo space. The Model 3 is a cool, sleek, sporty sedan. I actually agree with one of the Tesla people who mentioned that they could easily see both cars in their garage. You don't say that unless you acknowledge that each has features that give it an advantage over the other. They don't compete with each other; they complement each other.
Yep. We dont know what M3 will look like when it is finished (features, finish, etc), so its hard to compare except for price. But they seem to be close in price based on early promises. As for the Bolt, i highly doubt that the msrp will come down 7500 dollars in one year which is what your saying. On G2 volts after one year, we see discounts of up to 5k but the msrp has not dropped.
I see your point about these being different vehicles, but there numerous people that use price first then see what is out there. Next year, I will be look into spending between 30-35k on my next car. I'd like it to be an EV, but I'll look at everything out there and see what fits my family needs. It will most likely be a bolt but who knows. Maybe something else will suprise me. I thinks that they're are a lot of M3 early reservations that think they are getting a spacious stripped car similar to the s60 but when they actually find out it is smaller and not as spacious then they may look at a bolt. They're numerous G2 volt threads where people ordered early then complained about the lack rear space (i.e. can't fit my kids car seat, or my huge teenager) becuase they didn't see it in advance. I think they will compete with each other becuase of price point but agree they are different.
The MSRP on the MY2011 Volt was over $40,000. It then dropped to $39,000 for MY 2012. And then dropped again to $34,000 for MY2014. So that was $7,000 in three years.
The base MSRP of the Bolt I reserved is $36,000, so I think seeing the LT's MSRP near $30,000 in the next couple of years isn't a stretch.
Now, to your point: No, I don't think the Bolt will drop $7,000 in the next year, but I also have my doubts that the Model 3 will be available in the next year. And as a non-Tesla owner, non-reservation holder, I wouldn't see a Model 3 for at least three years. And that's if Tesla hits their production goals. Not to mention the fact that their $7,500 Federal rebate might be long gone by then.
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If these two models were in a market as crowded as the ICE-powered car market then I'd agree with you. But people looking for an EV have a much more limited set of choices. And for most EV buyers, the single two most important characteristics are range and price, the two attributes that make these cars stand apart from everything else in the market.
I certainly agree that the target markets are different, but until there's a broader range of choices available both these cars will at least be on the radar of most people considering a purchase of either of the hem.
Totally agree. If you have ~ 35k budget (after tax credit) and want an EV with this kind of range then you will look at both even though they are different types of vehicles. Well put.
I have a hunch GM is going to have trouble selling the Bolt.
3 people so far in 3 days that I deal with have said it's too small. They have never seen one in person, they have seen some kind of commercial or something, one specifically mentioned a movie theater. None of them are car guys. All of them thought it was the size of a Fiat 500 or something.
In any case, I wager Tesla Motors will not sell 30,000 Model 3's in 2018 for under $38k. I doubt they sell 30,000 under $44k, or the cost of the BMW i3. Nobody at Tesla has explained how they can make the car that cheaply. They are raising the price of the Model S 60 I heard.
3 people so far in 3 days that I deal with have said it's too small. They have never seen one in person, they have seen some kind of commercial or something, one specifically mentioned a movie theater. None of them are car guys. All of them thought it was the size of a Fiat 500 or something.
In any case, I wager Tesla Motors will not sell 30,000 Model 3's in 2018 for under $38k. I doubt they sell 30,000 under $44k, or the cost of the BMW i3. Nobody at Tesla has explained how they can make the car that cheaply. They are raising the price of the Model S 60 I heard.
They don't even know what a Tesla Model 3 is. They aren't car people. They have seen some kind of commercial or ad by Chevrolet that indicates the Bolt is a sub-compact.
The conversations went something like this:
"See you got a new car. Didn't you already have one just like it?"
"Yes, I got another Volt, this time for me. The others are for the kids."
"So how far does this one go on electricity?"
"Over 50 miles like the last one, but Chevy is going to be selling one with over 200 miles of electric range."
"What's it called?"
"It's called the Bolt with a B."
"Oh, I've seen that, but it's way too small. The Volt is a good size, but that Bolt is tiny."
?????
They are getting that info from some advertising by Chevrolet.
I still remember when they first showed the orange bolt over a year ago at a car show and announced it was the Bolt. Many members on the forum were saying what a colossal mistake and pointed out this very scenario.
Wish they would just call it an Ampera like in Europe or something else to avoid this issues. The name will continue to cause confussion and ultimately cost them sales. I know theses people were not car people but they spread this misinformation and it will not help promote what looks to be a potentially great EV.
My point was that, unless you have a Model 3 reserved already, don't expect to be able to cross shop it against the Bolt for at least another two or three years. If Tesla hits their production numbers, you might be able to order a Model 3 starting two years from now.
Actually, I don't think they are getting it from GM advertising. I think they are confusing it with the Spark EV. My suggestion: If you speak with them regularly, ask if they are confusing the Bolt with the Spark EV. Everyone I've spoken to has stated that the Spark EV is way too small. To us, it's clear that a 200-mile EV does not describe the Spark EV, but to someone who doesn't know much, they probably think the Bolt is nothing more than version 2 of the Spark EV.
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I'm just glad it was M/T pulled this off. But it does seem to send a subliminal message to the EV community what they think of the Bolt. A worthy equal.
So far all the media reporting seems positive. Who would have thought the media would praise a GM EV and then drive into the lions den to give a middle finger.
So far all the media reporting seems positive. Who would have thought the media would praise a GM EV and then drive into the lions den to give a middle finger.
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Count me as someone who said they should have named it something different. Cause confusion? Yes. Cost sales, doubtful.
It could also be an intentional strategy. The commercials that resonate the most are the stupid, ridiculous, over-the-top commercials that cause people to talk about them. When a conversation goes:
"So I saw an ad for this new Bolt."
"Oh, Chevy's gas-electric hybrid?"
"No, Bolt with a B."
"Wait, what?"
I'm not saying it's a great strategy, but maybe that is what they were shooting for.
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