Elon Musk promises $25,000 Tesla and says Model S 'Plaid' is coming soon

[Zorro]

Source: CNN

Elon Musk ended Tesla's big battery event Tuesday evening with some big promises about the pricing of Tesla's future cars and the announcement of a new ultra-fast version of today's Model S.

After reviewing improvements in Tesla's own battery designs and manufacturing advancements that could result in huge reductions in battery costs, Musk promised a $25,000 Tesla electric car that would be available in about three years.

That would be much cheaper than any car Tesla has made so far. Musk has a history of sometimes under-delivering on promises, or even not delivering at all. Years ago, Tesla promised a $35,000 electric car, the Tesla Model 3, but even then the Model 3 was only available at that price for a short time.

Musk also promised on Tuesday that the $25,000 car would be capable of driving fully autonomously, a difficult feat because the sensors and other equipment needed for even partly autonomous driving are expensive. And even as he touted the company's ambitious future plans, he admitted that the company's fully-autonomous driving software experienced unforeseen challenges, prompting a "fundamental rewrite" of the "entire software stack," though he did not detail when that rewrite occurred.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/22/business/tesla-elon-musk-battery-day/index.html

[lagomorph777]

1. $25k electric? Great! $25k autopilot? No thanks!

What could possibly go wrong?

[OnlinePoker]

4. Accidents with regular driving 2.2/million miles

Accidents with autopilot - 0.3/million miles. Not perfect, but safer.

[Miguelito Loveless]

14. I will say that a lot of the promise of AP

is still years in the future for a number of reasons, but AP is an excellent driver-assist package right now. I use it daily and it takes a lot of stress out of driving, even though I do NOT trust it blindly.

That aside, driving electric brings fun back to driving. It is quiet, smooth, cheap, and no more gas station visits.

[lagomorph777]

16. I think driver-assist will get better every year; and more necessary as people get worse every year.

I just wonder whether $25k is enough, in the near-term, for a quality self-driving system (including the price of the car itself).

[Miguelito Loveless]

25. When Musk said it would have AP

I think he meant it would be "AP capable". I honestly can't see it having full AP at $25K. Also, Tesla has been making noises about making AP a subscription service. Each car has all the hardware, it is just a matter of turning on the software.

For the record, I am highly skeptical of the "self-driving taxi fleet" claims, one of the few places I think Musk is seriously overestimating the tech, and misreading the market. But what do I know, I am just an amateur observer.

I have been following the green energy/transportation market for a few decades, and became genuinely excited about it starting back in 2011. My wife and I have since gone the whole "tree hugger" route with solar/battery/EVs since 2014, and have been doing it in stages.

People get very hung up in Musk's personality (disagreeable/childish) and dismiss what is happening in the world with his tech. Wall Street dismissed yesterday's event since it talked about things that will happen in the future, not next quarter. But what was outlined to happen in "3 years" is like what happened in the PC marketplace from 1985-1988, or the cell phone market from 2007-2010.

[still_one]

2. I will NEVER by a car from trump support Elon Musk. There are plenty of other companies, Ford,

GM, etc., that have or are coming out with all electric models that I will explore when the infrastructure supports it

[Miguelito Loveless]

15. Depending on your situation

the infrastructure exists today. I have been driving EVs since 2014 and really haven't had a problem. Gasoline consumption dropped from 800+ gallons a year, to

[still_one]

18. I have a plug in hybrid Honda Clarity. Previously I had a volt. They both got about 50 miles

all electric before they kicked into utilizing the IC engine

Just driving around the bay area, I could go months without filling the gas tank

For my purposes the plug in hybrids are perfect until I feel comfortable that I can travel anywhere, and not having to worry about finding a charging station, which in certain areas are limited in numbers, and contention with other electrics

[Miguelito Loveless]

20. Exactly!

I am a huge fan of the Volt, and it is still in our driveway. It is the PERFECT "transition" vehicle to full EVs. I am rather annoyed with GM for killing it of. A friend o mine who is a pediatric nurse who does home visitation for medically fragile kids absolutely loves her Bolt, and puts 100-150 miles on it per day.

Ultimately, we have to leave gasoline behind, but in the interim, PHEV with at least 40 miles of range are a great middle step.

[still_one]

23. I was very upset that they killed the Volt. It was a great car, and I still see a lot of them

around here in California

No doubt about it, gasoline will be used less and less

[Miguelito Loveless]

26. The Volt is a great car to give

people a taste of driving electric, while dealing with range anxiety. I have persuaded a few people to switch by giving them rides in the Volt and letting them drive it. The up side of the discontinuation is that there is a growing supply of used Volt's at decent prices. We got ours used with 9200 miles on it, at 40% off list back in 2017.

The Leaf is another excellent commuter car, as long as you avoid anything pre-2014. I have seen them for under $10K.

[still_one]

27. Very true

[beaglelover]

29. How do you know who the CEOs of Ford or GM voted for?

I buy a product based on it's capabilities. My Tesla Model 3 is the top of its class in every way. Great performance, great range, great super charger network around the world, great looks, great technology, etc. etc. etc. YMMV

[still_one]

30. I actually don't know if Musk is a supporter of trump, but regarding his views on the pandemic,

he is just as unhinged as trump

To the general question you poise, how do you know about the CEO's of GM, or any company who they support?

It doesn't matter to me unless they decide to publicly use their position to further a racist, sexist, and bigot.

[niyad]

3. If he were giving those cars away, I would not have one. He has no concern for his employees.

[JT45242]

5. Just another lie from the Ponzi schemer

Tesla has NEVER turned an annual profit and somehow he is going to make a car cheaper and make a profit.

He forced his workers back during Covid, is anti union, proTrump, and an all around dirt bag.

NEVER BUY FROM THIS THIEF.

But, I'll bet the stock will continue to go up. He'll sell off right before the house of cards falls.

[OnlinePoker]

6. They made a profit last year (narrow - $35 million). n/t

[Miguelito Loveless]

17. Tesla has made a profit for the last 4 quarters

I have problems with some of Musk's practices, but his products are real, and it is NOT a Ponzi scheme. I understand people's dislike of Musk for his views on unions and labor practices, but let us stick to facts, not false accusations.

As to selling off, Musk has had ample opportunities to cash out and run, and never has in 13 years as a publicly traded company.

[turbinetree]

7. SO he can threaten other state governments and move his plants

and also thinks that the COVID19 virus is no fucking big deal, and then to top it all off he lives off the taxpayers largeness for his rocket launches,,,,,,,,,,,how fucking quaint, libertarian POS

[Zorro]

9. How does he live off "taxpayers largeness for his rocket launches"?

Please enlighten me.

[turbinetree]

10. Nasa which is funded by everyone, the public helped build this Space X program

Nasa gave him 2.5 billion of taxpayer money to develop this private enterprise and then when he launched that crew he got a bonus, and since he was given seed money, then he can pay it back since he's a for profit organization

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/nasas-bridenstine-investment-in-spacex-have-been-very-beneficial.html#:~:text=Under%20the%20Commercial%20Crew%20program,a%20competing%20spacecraft%20called%20Starliner.&text=For%20about%20the%20past%20decade,fly%20astronauts%20to%20the%20ISS.

NASA’s billions of investment in SpaceX have been ‘very beneficial,’ agency chief says

[Zorro]

12. That's no different than any typical NASA development contract

There are always performance incentives in those types of awards.

[truthisfreedom]

21. Every rocket company as well as every aerospace and aeronautical product making company

gets most of its development money from the military or NASA. What's new about that?

Who else is going to get them going? Who else orders jet fighters and bombers? SpaceX is doing a hell of a lot more with commercial customers than ANY other rocket company has EVER done. They're true innovators. Plus, almost every time Elon launches one of his rockets with SpaceX he sends up more of his StarLink internet satellites, often 50 at a time! The dude is a true innovator. I have NO idea why people hate him.

[Miguelito Loveless]

19. Yes, Musk can be quite childish.

But he did not follow through on his threat, and it is not in his financial interest to do so (if we are going to just look at with cynical reasoning).

Like it or not, Tesla is the reason the internal combustion engine is going the way of the VHS tape. He may be a childish asshole at times, but his tech is the real deal.

Also, his SpaceX system is cheaper than all his competitors, who were "living off the taxpayer", so at least we are getting more for our money with SpaceX. They currently do things we were told could NEVER be done (cut the cost of space flight a order of magnitude by landing and re-using boosters).

[truthisfreedom]

22. I wish I could get every single person who bitches about Elon to take a single test drive for ONE

SINGLE MINUTE in a Model S P100D. There's just NOTHING on EARTH like that acceleration. It's mind-blowing and unforgettable. It makes every other car seem like a total dog.

[Miguelito Loveless]

28. Again, they get

taken in by the anti-EV campaigns, which has Tesla square in its sites. It doesn't help that Elon can be his own worst enemy. My first EV was a 2012 Leaf, and it, while "funny looking", would leave most gas cars in the dust from a standing start, while being nice and quiet and fun to drive.

The P100D is the closes thing to making the jump to hyperspace. But the sooner he can get the 3 below $35, or a $25K Model 2, the better.

[beaglelover]

32. My Tesla Model 3 AWD Dual Motor Long Range is the best car I've ever owned in my life.

The performance and tech make it in a class by itself. This is my first electric car and I'm never going back to ICE again.

[Steelrolled]

34. I do like the acceleration in even modest EVs

as well as 1-pedal driving. But the crazy acceleration of high end Teslas, while cool, is something I don't have a use for.

[csziggy]

8. Elon Musk has gone to PLAID?!!

He deserves every bit of derision we can give him.

[Initech]

11. I would totally buy a Tesla if Ludicrous Speed were an option!

[truthisfreedom]

24. Actually, that's what they call it. Ludicrous mode.

[EX500rider]

33. Here's is a Tesla SUV in Ludicrous mode Vs a 600+hp Audi R8:

Tesla model X P100D vs Audi R8 Drag Race Jeremy Clarkson | The Grand Tour
It also goes into Celebration mode at the end...lol

[yaesu]

13. tRump should make him battery czar

[haele]

31. I'm waiting for the VW ID Buzz

Especially since it seems that GM is finally biting the bullet and will be working as part of a consortium of car mfrs to put 30k more charging stations cross country.
Also, battery technology is improving; Tesla is not the only major innovator around, they're just one of the louder, more flamboyant ones.

There's enough similar to Tesla electric cars coming out over the next 2/3 years that are also less expensive that a Tesla is no longer that special for the average driver.

Ultimately, I think electric cars are the interim step to hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Haele

[Boogiemack]

35. I really don't care. Do you? People are dying, starving, and being evicted.

If I can afford Tesla stock, I already have more money than I can spend in my lifetime.

Why do I even care about these people if they don't care enough to care? Tesla. Mesla..smh