It simplifies their manufacturing, also allows easy upgrades that many want at a future date. Actually I found out my cheap Toyota is somewhat the same too. they were all wired for upgrades so if you want upgrades at a future date, the dealer can easily do it. Tesla just carries that concept to the extreme.
hardware isn't software though. Pre-wiring for options is in a whole 'nother realm than adding extra capacity that is wasted.
We have/had in EU a system of subsidies that pays thousands of euro's if you buy a car with lower then 90g CO emmission. If you change ANYTHING to your car you have to pay back the subsidies. If you for example would afterwards install a towbar, the subsidy has to be paid back as the car will need more fuel (so higher CO) to pull a trailer. That's what Canada should do wit Tesla too. It is not logical that the end product finally does not comply with the rules anymore to have a fiscal incentive. The finalproduct is not the product anuymore on which base the fiscal incentive was given. You can compare what Tesla does with tax evasion.
Not sure many people living paycheck to paycheck spend 100k+ on a car, I see a lot of Teslas around, which here cost more than 100k but the owners don't fit that description. Not sure how it is in the US, but over here, with traffic jams and very aggressive driving to get into any available space, the autopilot is very much useless. Add to this internet connection sucks beyond belief and it is a great day when you can command the Tesla from your mobile phone. Having said that, I find the Tesla X great, might just save 15k up on the piloting options if I had the choice again. Interior options are also expensive but quite nice. Will need to buy new car(s) soon upon moving, with dimmer income prospects and will spend less on those, don't understand why someone would spend a significant part of his income on a car, but again check the luxury cars buyers' profiles, and it appears most buyers can easily afford those cars.
Stockolio is Mr "It is the end of everything" on this website, really sounds like Little Bicycle reborn, 7/8 years later in this bull market.
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2019...heck-the-new-normal-for-middle-class-america/ Depends on where you live for sure, but generally, people are living beyond their means at any given time and when the music stops, that's when shit gets bad.
What you say makes sense, and I have no intention to dispute the data of the article you link, but it really doesn't mention those people living around the poverty line buying 100k cars or just Tesla - yet when I watch videos shot the US, it is usually surprising how people there seem to drive bigger cars than in other parts of the world, no doubt many people struggling to make ends meet would be better off financially driving a smaller car - but cars also seem very cheap in the US, compared to most places in the World, a big car certainly doesn't mean a 100k car. Also from as far as I can remember I've read about Americans living on dangerous credit, there have been a couple of crisis along the way but the US is still the leading world economy - not so sure about the best place to live for low to middle income folks
Looks like you are right but also TIL I am not middle class: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/brace-yourself-this-is-how-much-americas-1-has-saved-2018-08-24