You spent years comparing Tesla to GM and Ford, that's why I keep coming back to them. I take it that competition with auto manufacturers is done with, particularly with US manufacturers who are struggling to build EVs for many reasons. This means you finally acknowledge Tesla isn't exclusively a car manufacturer and thus you expect better margins, as a tech company, an energy company, etc. At least we're getting on the same story. Tesla's 414 was at a peak of a retail frenzy and exuberance, not just for TSLA shares but across the market. Since then, we've had Musk's coming out moments leading to his Twitter purchase and increased mental volatility. We've had unions, their media links and their political patrons going after Musk and indirectly Tesla. We've had the last century's energy powerhouses and associated industries funneling money into politicians, media, research, etc. to challenge environmental decay, alternative energies and anything that seeks to displaced the status quo. Finally, as TSLA joined the big league, big funds bought in, which had the effect of damping share price frenzy for more controlled and predictable profit taking. TSLA may be stuck at around 250 but 2023 was a highly profitable year for traders. Musk said a few years ago that cars were just vehicles for high profit margin businesses, like batteries, like self driving applications, like AI, like bots, like energy delivery. The naysayers are those who stand to lose money from Tesla's success, those who want everything yesterday and those who are too offended by Musk to appreciate his achievements. Musk has decided that it was more important to grow volumes than profit margins. He is taking the longer view over short term profits, to the dismay of some, like me, who want to be rich today. He is right of course. The tech titans have shown, financial success is charging small amounts to large numbers of people. In 2024 Tesla will break the 2 million vehicle sales. I will find your post of 2-3 years ago when you laughed off Tesla selling 2 million vehicles by 2025.
SunTrader said: more Teslas on earth than people in the not too distant future. VicBee replied: Tesla made a million cars in the last 28 months without its 2 new factories. I think it's safe to suggest it will make and sell 2.5 million in 2025. #7 Jul 20, 2022 SunTrader replied: Then they will be well on their way to what I previously said. GL with that.
Yes good luck with there being more Tesla's on earth than people. Again good luck with that. Your point was .... ?
That a year and half ago, it seemed for you unrealistic to say that Tesla would sell 2.5 million vehicles by end of 2025. Simple, no?
Of course he has. But you're wrong as to the reason why. It's not the increased volume multiplied by the smaller profit, that's not it at all. I spoke of this last summer when he said he was coming out with a $20K sedan. There's no profit there, so why do it? Easy. It's for the data. Even though they lead the pack in autonomous driving, as someone pointed out, the "last mile" if you will, to achieve true level 5 self driving automation, will be exponentially harder than everything they've achieved up till now. He needs more data. More cars on the road means more data. Give away the loss leaders... but in exchange for that, you once again leap light years ahead of the competition with how much you know. I have said this here since I've been here, long before it became a common mantra of the bulls. Not my first post about this, but from 2021: https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/tesla-tsla-has-topped.358793/page-10#post-5462956 Elon knows what he's doing. Another million vehicles on the road collecting more data, data that is crucial to the highest hurdle of all, level 5 autonomy.... is brilliant. Put the "peoples' wagon" on the road in mass and let them collect a gillion petabytes/minute and send it all back to the mothership. TSLA is not about cars, it's about the future.
Never said it. What I will say, and have said previously, is that sales are not what is really important. Mar mar margins are. Misquote me on that in another year also.
Actually, you will be surprised. I think the 2 (if that's the name) will actually be profitable, at least more so than traditional auto manufacturers. But yes, agreed with everything you wrote.
Musk’s drug use reportedly worries his company’s leaders. Execs and board members at SpaceX, Tesla, and other companies run by Elon Musk are concerned about the business impacts of Musk’s persistent drug use, according to the WSJ. Musk’s reported use of drugs, including ketamine, cocaine, LSD, and ecstasy, at parties could imperil SpaceX’s lucrative contracts with NASA and violate company policies at Tesla, a publicly traded company with a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders, the WSJ notes. Musk’s lawyer responded that the billionaire has never failed a drug test at SpaceX.
I'm not too worried about the party drugs.He would probably partake in an effort to be relatable,if at all. The Ketamine(under prescription for depression)is concerning as it indicates he may not be coping with the spotlight and other demands. From memory he has Tesla with all of its various angles,The Boring Company,Space X and the AI one with the funny name.Even operating 4 nuts and bolts companies is rigorous let alone 4 that are continually expanding with each 'outside the box' idea. Its hard not to take your hat off to the guy,we're drawing lines on a chart and he's finding a way to launch a satellite into orbit and return it to earth for upgrade and repair before launching it again. I read recently that he now has the sole contract to run astronauts to and from the International Space Station. He is the Renaissance man of these times.However,he is only human.