Post by JDSoCal on Feb 11, 2015 22:51:49 GMT -8
Tesla is a little unique in that Musk wants the electric car to succeed just as much or more than wants Tesla to succeed. If the electric car succeeds while Tesla never makes a profit, he'll be happy and move on to his other world-changing ventures. Musk is kind of like Steve Jobs without the ruthless business side of him.
Well, so much for that fiduciary duty then, huh? I like my CEO's to have a ruthless business side to them. Like Steve. And Tim Cook. If you don't think Cook is ruthless, go look at GTAT's contract.
Tesla is slowly raising awareness about the benefits of EVs, and yes, they are pretty "neato". I suspect you don't believe in anthropogenic climate change but as a man of science I do, as do over 99% of scientists - the evidence is overwhelming.
Ooh, awareness-raising, sounds like that will pay off for investors. And Ooh, a man of science. What's your PhD in again? Science isn't based on consensus. One man who disproves a theory is enough. The climate numbers have been cooked in a way that would have a private sector businessman indicted. In fact, the manipulation of climate data was recently termed the biggest science scandal ever, i.e., not very sciencey.
Nothing about "climate science" would ever survive peer review in a real science discipline. Where's the control without mankind's CO2, for one? Oh yeah, I guess we do have the hotter medieval period.
Your sales argument is short-sighted. Apple should have shut down Mac sales when Windows was monopolizing the market, right?
No, because Macs were profitable and didn't need subsidies from the taxpayer or Microsoft just to stay afloat, like Tesla does. Apple obviously survived and thrived without that. The government shouldn't be picking winners and losers. It is bad at that and it leads to cronyism.
You think of Tesla as a business, and you may be right that it never becomes profitable. There's a good chance of that and that's why I've never owned the stock. But there is so much more going on, and like it or not both Tesla and Apple are on the same page in that power generation and consumption need to be much cleaner.
Cool, good for Tesla, but this is an investment forum and I'm talking about the business. And so long as Apple doesn't negatively impact its bottom line by appeasing the officious green extortionists, whatever, just give me alpha. Why are you even arguing this when you have conceded you won't buy TSLA stock? I don't give a shit if TSLA wants to raise awareness about unicorn farts causing global warming in Middle Earth, just don't buy the fucking stock unless you want to lose your shirt. And pants.
I'm seeing a strong demand anecdotally for Teslas. Everyone I talk to loves them. The market is there but is prohibitive - both supply and cost. Both will improve over time. Competition will intensify, which may be bad for Tesla but will fulfil Musk's end vision.
Strong anecdotal demand? What does that even mean? The market isn't there if Tesla is only selling 33,000 cars a year with a 40% discount. Anecdotes don't pay the rent. I love tigers, but I'm not buying one. How does that help tiger sales?
Again, Tesla's are regressively taxed-and-subsidized toys for rich guys. Liberals should hate that.