Tesla has kept its word before, like last Spring when it rolled the first Roadster off the assembly line while other electric car companies were still just issuing ever more press releases.
Sure, there were some bumps in the road. Surprises are normal and should be expected in bringing such a radically innovative product to market.
The little California start-up has just passed another milestone, despite the major pothole of the financial apocalypse last Fall. Tesla became profitable in mid 2009, as promised.
Elon Musk announced that Tesla made its first $1 million profit on sales of $20 million. The profitability arose mostly from improved gross margins on the second iteration of the Roadster. A surge in new Roadster sales helped as Tesla shipped out a blistering 109 vehicles in July.
Having Daimler as a partner can help in developing big mechanical systems like suspensions and with purchasing muscle to lower costs.
Having Daimler as a customer should also help, going ahead. Tesla has a deal to supply electric-drive systems for Daimler’s Smart electric cars. Part of the $465 million loan Tesla received from the Obama adminsistration is being used to set up the plant for building the electric-drive technology for other electric car makers. Selling these electric-drive systems will produce an additional revenue stream that amortizes the cost of creating them for the Roadster.
Tesla is using the remaining $365 million of the loan to work on the $50,000 sedan that is scheduled for 2011. The Sedan S; as Nick Chambers figured out, breaks even with a $35,000 gas car in 5 years at $5 gas. Then, sales of that Model S will fund the one that you and I can afford at half that amount.
Tesla’s final loan repayment to us taxpayers will be in 2022. Me, I’m not sweating. Tesla’s kept their word before.
Image from Jurvetson
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About Susan Kraemer
An all-electric “SMART” car? With titanium parts? carbon fiber body panels? Ultra-light weight? How far will it go per charge! This I gotta have! This makes ultimate plug-in good sense! Now, we are downsizing the load, and changing the fuel, and going practical and realistic! Just at a time when the Suburbans and Escalades are going to disappear from the roads too! Please, G d make oil $ 200.00 bbl again so the sensible, respectful, practical folk can have some safe space on smoother pavement! The big trucks will go rail, just as soon as Obama pulls the rag, and the planes won’t fly as much if fuel is expensive, and our economy will heal! The environment will heal, and we can learn to live less extravagently, and we will heal!
An all-electric “SMART” car? With titanium parts? carbon fiber body panels? Ultra-light weight? How far will it go per charge! This I gotta have! This makes ultimate plug-in good sense! Now, we are downsizing the load, and changing the fuel, and going practical and realistic! Just at a time when the Suburbans and Escalades are going to disappear from the roads too! Please, G d make oil $ 200.00 bbl again so the sensible, respectful, practical folk can have some safe space on smoother pavement! The big trucks will go rail, just as soon as Obama pulls the rag, and the planes won’t fly as much if fuel is expensive, and our economy will heal! The environment will heal, and we can learn to live less extravagently, and we will heal!
I am waiting for the TESLA MODEL S ! And with some SOLAR POWER FINALY FREEDOM !
I am waiting for the TESLA MODEL S ! And with some SOLAR POWER FINALY FREEDOM !
I am waiting for the TESLA MODEL S ! And with some SOLAR POWER FINALY FREEDOM !
You said it, Uncle B! We will heal, indeed…truly.
You said it, Uncle B! We will heal, indeed…truly.
Constantin,
I feel exactly the same away. As soon as people are able to buy feasible electric cars such as the model s then look for solar panel sales to go through the roof. It’s like having your own personal free gas station (:
Constantin,
I feel exactly the same away. As soon as people are able to buy feasible electric cars such as the model s then look for solar panel sales to go through the roof. It’s like having your own personal free gas station (:
Constantin,
I feel exactly the same away. As soon as people are able to buy feasible electric cars such as the model s then look for solar panel sales to go through the roof. It’s like having your own personal free gas station (:
I’m still waiting for a magazine-tested Tesla to deliver on the 200-plus mile range they’ve advertised for years. As for this “profit”, I’m guessing it’s more a result of clever record-keeping and less a result of ROI.
I’m still waiting for a magazine-tested Tesla to deliver on the 200-plus mile range they’ve advertised for years. As for this “profit”, I’m guessing it’s more a result of clever record-keeping and less a result of ROI.
I’m still waiting for a magazine-tested Tesla to deliver on the 200-plus mile range they’ve advertised for years. As for this “profit”, I’m guessing it’s more a result of clever record-keeping and less a result of ROI.
I can’t wait to see where this goes. I really like the Tesla, but I’ll like it even more if they can make it affordable. Let’s see if they can pull it off.