[Steverino]

"Musk mouth" can be a pro or a con. The "taking the company private, funding secured" tweet is still reverberating.
So the DOJ is looking into this in addition to the SEC and of course there are the lawsuits. All are distractions from the business of making cars.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-face-u-s-criminal-probe-over-musk-statements

 

[scottf200]

"Musk mouth" can be a pro or a con. The "taking the company private, funding secured" tweet is still reverberating.
So the DOJ is looking into this in addition to the SEC and of course there are the lawsuits. All are distractions from the business of making cars.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-face-u-s-criminal-probe-over-musk-statements

He is why we have these numbers, Tesla doesn't have official marketing budgets while other car manufacturers are mainly building cars for ZEV credits and prototyping test fleets and limiting sales. Tesla was the most shorted stock and just fell to #2 probably temporarily. Other manufacturers and big oil have a lot to lose. Tesla has drug most companies to where they are at with their new "2020" plans.

I was at a 'National Drive Electric Week' gathering recently.

The buzz and excitement and rides request were OVERWHELMING for the Tesla cars.

 

[Norton]

He is why we have these numbers, Tesla doesn't have official marketing budgets ....

Yes, he did it all by himself....

They don't spend on marketing because the swooning press does all that for free.
And now there are ?+200-300,000? middle class fans of the Fabled $35k Tesla waiting for their $1000 interest free loan to pay off, someday...

Those people wouldn't be out that money without the press doing the marketing work.

Maybe this company can make a turn around. They seem to have a great product!
If only that one guy would shut up....

 

[obermd]

I read last night the US Air Force is investigating Musk for his marijuana smoking at that press conference. It was in California so he didn't break any State laws but the US Government still lists Marijuana on the schedule with major narcotics with the comment of "no medicinal or social value."

 

[supchrgamx]

I read last night the US Air Force is investigating Musk for his marijuana smoking at that press conference. It was in California so he didn't break any State laws but the US Government still lists Marijuana on the schedule with major narcotics with the comment of "no medicinal or social value."

what does the air force care about it
maybe he should move every thing to Canada , not a big deal
sounds like the shorts are at it again

 

[Barry]

The Air Force is "looking into how to handle" the issue because it is prohibited for someone with a government security clearance. SpaceX may have contracts with the military.

 

[Steverino]

Musk's mouth is a double edged sword. He's able to generate lots of free publicity for Tesla, but then there are the pedophile tweets (and now lawsuits), the going private tweets (and now two potential criminal probes by SEC and DOJ, and of course lawsuits).

He needs better control. But maybe he likes the controversy and being "the bad boy".

 

[FI Spyder]

Not to mention the billion dollars in loans (2) coming due soon. Coming close to crunch time. His Saudi "buddies" just put a billion dollars into Lucid.

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/tesla-competitor-just-got-1-213037142.html

Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

 

[supchrgamx]

don't miss next weeks episode on
'As the stomach turns'

 

[supchrgamx]

https://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/air-force-marijuana-use-recruits/71352/

looks like he can still inlist

 

[sosmerc]

Nobody got into any serious trouble for GM covering up their ignition switch fiasco. So what does Tesla REALLY have to worry about?
The cars and their owners actually sell the product for Tesla. And they still can't keep up with demand. Nice problem to have.

 

[Steverino]

Nobody got into any serious trouble for GM covering up their ignition switch fiasco.

You mean, besides the guy who did the coverup losing his job, and GM paying out millions? So if Musk (the guy who caused these issues) is fired and Tesla pays out millions that would not be serious?

I do think Musk needs to be removed and a mature management installed. He was the right guy when Tesla needed to get off the ground, now he's increasingly a problem and loose canon.

This popped up today:
AutoNation CEO: Tesla may not be around in 10 years if Musk keeps relying on 'bait-and-switch' tactics.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/19/autonation-ceo-mike-jackson-tesla-may-not-be-around-in-10-years.html

 

[supchrgamx]

Elon is still the right guy
stocks are not down 25% as the article say
bob lutz should know all about going bankrupt
and don't forget Elon himself said it was set up to fail
nothing new here

 

[sosmerc]

I agree, Elon is still the key to Tesla's success now and going forward. He does need to attract and maintain talent to help with the day to day process of running such a complex business...Elon provides the vision and energy and motivation.
Serious competition will be good for everyone when it finally materializes. Let's see where Tesla is at when Jag, Porsche, Audi and Benz electric vehicles actually appear on the roads in any significant number. And perhaps even more important...let's see what kind of a network they build for the long distance travelers and how that runs.

 

[scottf200]

Lutz said "...auto manufacturers can sell their cars at a loss and make up for it on sales of internal combustion vehicles."

Lutz said "Tesla has no … tech advantage, no software advantage, no battery advantage. No advantages whatsoever"

*https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/18/tes...aveyard-predicts-former-gm-exec-bob-lutz.html

Oddly there are several advantages (SuperChargers, looks, passing (etc) speed, charging speed, perf version w/track_mode, etc, etc) and a reason people are buying them in quantities way more than other EVs (and many other ICE cars in those price ranges).

My son has a delivery date and time for his Tesla Model 3 and he is very excited. His co-workers are looking forward to rides and checking it out. Spouse will drive their Volt.

 

[Ladogaboy]

I do think Musk needs to be removed and a mature management installed. He was the right guy when Tesla needed to get off the ground, now he's increasingly a problem and loose canon.

I do think people overestimate Elon's contributions to the company, and I agree that Tesla is in need of much better leadership (and maybe management).

I find it ironic that so many Tesla people hate Bob Lutz so much, but they love Elon Musk. The truth is, they are cut from the same cloth. Two peas in a pod. Mary Barra is a much better example of what the leader of a large automotive company should look like.

 

[Norton]

I agree, Elon is still the key to Tesla's success now and going forward. ...
Elon provides the vision and energy and motivation.
... when Jag, Porsche, Audi and Benz electric vehicles actually appear ..let's see what kind of a network they build for the long distance travelers and how that runs.

Wow, what a guy! (just ignore the goofiness....)

Are you saying we need more proprietary charging networks out there?
Do you know about the CCS network that is being built now? Some are supposed to be 150kW capable! Someday....

Tesla has a great product and a great proprietary charging network, now! All they need are profits to begin....

 

[Ladogaboy]

Do you know about the CCS network that is being built now? Some are supposed to be 150kW capable! Someday....

There are over a dozen 150 to 350 kW public charger sites online now, with over 50 more in various stages of construction (i.e., ground has been broken, foundations poured, chargers actually installed). I'm going to be test driving a Jaguar I-PACE in less than two weeks.

 

[V0ltastic]

Maybe it's just me but it may be best for Elon to just quit social media. Plenty of other public facing people do that when they don't have a filter between thoughts and posting. Or simply higher a PR person to post for you so there is some thought/lag in making postings rather than just bluntly putting out whatever comes to your mind. It seems like a reasonable recommendation given what he has at stake.

 

[Norton]

.... Plenty of other public facing people do that when they don't have a filter between thoughts and posting. ..... a PR person to post for you so there is some thought/lag in making postings rather than just bluntly putting out whatever comes to your mind. ...

Maybe some 'people do that'.
But not the Highest Office.
No problems there doing it the 'blunty' way !