Tesla sure has their act together

[RainCaster]

I am very impressed by the communications I'm getting from Tesla on the Model S. Project status, lots of show clips, very nice. Sure wish Aptera could do that- it might help them survive.

[PatQ562]

Said vigorous Tesla publicity also notes the 1000th Tesla is on display at the Detroit Auto Show, next to trail-dusty number 750 which drove cross-country on its own wheels. In the winter.

Selling 1000 Teslas at $120K per equals 120 million dollars revenue. Starting to look like a real company.

Pat Q

[RainCaster]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10439050-54.html

Not only that, but they get a $465M government loan to start the Model S production. Just as a reminder for those who haven't been keeping score, this is a five seater that will sell for only $5,000 more than the Aptera's two seater. Oh yeah- it will have a 300 mile range as well.

[aptera1213]

Actually the price of the Tesla S, as currently quoted, is 57,000...

with the expected tax rebate it will be 50 grand

Now that is only 5000 more than the top price, as currently quoted, of the Aptera.

But that doesn't count any rebate Aptera might get.

Also that 57,000 isn't likely the top price of the S, but the starting price.

Of course the S does fit more people, does go much farther and will be seen as a "real" car by most people...and it is very pretty and nice.

Of course both cars are just dreams right now. The S is two years from production according to Musk, and the Aptera is in hold mode so we don't know if production is this year, next year, two years or never.

Gavin

[Tanquen2]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10439050-54.html

Not only that, but they get a $465M government loan to start the Model S production. Just as a reminder for those who haven't been keeping score, this is a five seater that will sell for only $5,000 more than the Aptera's two seater. Oh yeah- it will have a 300 mile range as well.

Hmm… I thought it was like $45 with the $7000-ish subsidy and that was with the 100 and something mile battery pack. The lower of three they are to offer. You need to pay a bit more to get the 300 mile range highest of the three. This is just from memory as I almost put down the $5000 to be on the wait list. It’s just that best case its two years out from now. If I put the $5000 down now it’s maybe other year onto that to get through the reservation holders. :( I’m still tempted but $5000. The Karma should be available at the end of the year but it’s like $80,000 with a $5000 deposit.

[scottsim]

Hmm… I thought it was like $45 with the $7000-ish subsidy and that was with the 100 and something mile battery pack. The lower of three they are to offer. You need to pay a bit more to get the 300 mile range highest of the three. This is just from memory as I almost put down the $5000 to be on the wait list. It’s just that best case its two years out from now. If I put the $5000 down now it’s maybe other year onto that to get through the reservation holders. :( I’m still tempted but $5000. The Karma should be available at the end of the year but it’s like $80,000 with a $5000 deposit.

Another option for the Tesla S, is to reserve the signature version...that has a good chance of being out by the end of this year. in the 80K range, but as I understand it not far from what it would cost to get a bare-bones S, with all the options that the Signature has...they are only producing 1000 of these but from what I have heard have only have reservations in low 100's now...The deal breaker for me was committing to the larger deposit, of 40K for 10-11 mos. I don't like the idea of a 50% deposit that is not making interest.

[PatQ562]

I assume the Tesla S will be a fine machine but I prefer smaller, handier cars with lower power consumption.

Pat Q

[SEGsby]

They have no problems getting money:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=17480

The Sedan is slick lookin'...

[KarenRei]

Said vigorous Tesla publicity also notes the 1000th Tesla is on display at the Detroit Auto Show, next to trail-dusty number 750 which drove cross-country on its own wheels. In the winter.

I saw them both at the Detroit Auto Show. The Model S is a very nice looking car. More greenhouse than I expected. It's no hyper-aerodynamic wunderauto, but still nice.

[SlowSRT4]

http://c0424341.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/tesla-model-s.jpg

:thumbsup:

[aptera1213]

well tesla just got their 1/2 billion loan from the DOE.

good for them

the s is very very pretty.

and we now know is take about 7 months from approval to cash in hand.

Gavin

[NeilBlanchard]

The Tesla 'S' is just too darn big, and way too expensive to be on my radar. I do appreciate how the Tesla cars are able to shatter people's preconceptions about electric cars -- they do look very good, in the conventional sense, anyway.

[SlowSRT4]

I do appreciate how the Tesla cars are able to shatter people's preconceptions about electric cars -- they do look very good, in the conventional sense, anyway.
That is actually one of my concerns. I would like to drive an electric car which looks good and inspires people. Either the Tesla S or Aptera 2e are both very sleek high-tech looking vehicles. One just happens to look like a plane and the other an Aston Martin. :sign0020:

I fear that if I was driving an econobox electric such as Smart Electric or Th!nk or iMiEV; people would just laugh at it and not take it seriously. Explaining why it is a worthwhile commuter vehicle would probably fall on deaf ears, especially when it costs twice what a Yaris or Fiat 500 would.

Then in the middle you have the Volt and Focus EV, which are basically normal good-looking cars. :aptera: