Elon Musk

[doug]

This thread is starting to go off the rails. To reign things back in I have a few remarks:

Be mindful of comments that start to sound like personal attacks. Try to keep it fact based and polite.

We already have plenty of threads on Martin Eberhard. Discussion about what he's up to can go, for example, here: What will Martin do Next?

No one is the de facto voice of TMC. Speak only for yourself.

 

[Norbert]

Chelsea Sexton on EV advocacy.

It so happens I disagree with her on the relevance of plugin-hybrids, fast-charging, and appear to have a much more favorable view of Elon and his strategy. In the current time, those are important points. I also disagree on things like that tax credits should be limited to Volt and cheaper, I think it should be more proportional to battery size. I do agree with her that they should apply at the time of sale. I liked her in "Who killed the electric car", and her comments are most of the time worth thinking about, but I just happen to disagree with her on a lot of "details", including some important details.

I think Martin is a good engineer and thinker, but not CEO level for a company the kind Tesla needs to be. His time at that is irrevocably over, and in my view, the sooner the oldtimers understand that, the better.

I also agree with Chelsea that currently the "EV community" is too complacent. Survival of EVs through the current phase will require tough steps, and even though long-term success is very likely, the success of current tech, companies, and products is far from guaranteed. However so far I think Tesla is the company which is making those steps (and that appears to be coming from Elon).

 

[Doug_G]

Following up on an earlier comment... and hopefully avoiding any silly irrelevant personality controversies... can a "financial guy" run a technology company?

Well, from what I've seen the answer is often "no". Technology companies sometimes get into trouble and boot the CEO and put the CFO in his place. That might work extremely well in the short-term, but in the long term a lack of vision for the company results in stagnation and eventual collapse.

Apple is the obvious example - it continued its rise on momentum after Scully took over, indeed did much better at first, but it ultimately lost its focus and floundered - until Jobs returned and rocketed it forwards.

We've seen something similar happen at several local companies. Except for the bit about the founder returning and rescuing it...

That's not to say a "financial guy" can't have the kind of drive, focus, and vision necessary to build a company. I just don't think you should take even a talented "accountant" (CFO) and put him in the CEO slot.

Clearly Elon is not just a "financial guy", although his financial resources were instrumental. Martin's original contributions were obviously important, but it's pretty clear that Elon is absolutely essential to Tesla at it's current stage of development.

 

[Steph]

Clearly Elon is not just a "financial guy", although his financial resources were instrumental. Martin's original contributions were obviously important, but it's pretty clear that Elon is absolutely essential to Tesla at it's current stage of development.

I completely agree. Elon is taking this whole thing from a couple of guy's dreams into reality. If I was Martin, I would be very proud of what the baby is growing up to be. Sometimes, you just have to let go. The baby becomes an adult and life goes on.

 

[dmckinstry]

Clearly he is saving up for a continent.

Africa? Australia?

 

[AnOutsider]

I completely agree. Elon is taking this whole thing from a couple of guy's dreams into reality. If I was Martin, I would be very proud of what the baby is growing up to be. Sometimes, you just have to let go. The baby becomes an adult and life goes on.

Martin is probably happy with the success, not his name being scrubbed from it though. His situation sucks, but I still think the company is in a good spot it may not have been in otherwise.

Africa? Australia?

Probably the former since it's his homeland, though perhaps he's up for a change.

 

[NigelM]

Forbes' billionaires list expands to 1,226, including Tesla founder Elon Musk

Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal and founder of Tesla Motors (TSLA), joined the list as the world's 634th richest person as the value of stock in his electric car company rose.

 

[Larry Chanin]

According to a report in today's nightly news he's worth about $2 billion.

Larry

 

[Steph]

According to a report in today's nightly news he's worth about $2 billion.

And he only at the beginning. SpaceX and Tesla are still in the early stage. If all goes on plan, he will be in the top 10 in a few years.

 

[NigelM]

Forbes: How Elon Musk Became A Billionaire Twice Over

 

[smoothoperator]

Forbes: How Elon Musk Became A Billionaire Twice Over

Not bad for a CEO who has a salary of 33k/year from Tesla:biggrin:

Tesla Motors - Offer Letter - Elon Musk

 

[Bud]

Plus another $24 million in compensation in 2009.

Originally posted by TEG: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/cgrp/research/documents/CGRP15-Tesla.pdf

 

[immel5]

Elon's gonna be on 60 Minutes on 18th march:

Space travel moves to private sector - 60 Minutes - CBS News

 

[dpeilow]

Elon is on BBC Radio 4 discussing Mars exploration in 10 minutes.

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Scotts Legacy, Episode 2

 

[rabar10]

Elon's gonna be on 60 Minutes on 18th march:

Space travel moves to private sector - 60 Minutes - CBS News

See -this separate thread- for follow-up discussion on the 60 Minutes piece.

Elon is on BBC Radio 4 discussing Mars exploration in 10 minutes.

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Scotts Legacy, Episode 2

David, I didn't catch the BBC Radio 4 spot, how was it?

 

[dpeilow]

It was a very good documentary actually. Worth trying to get on iPlayer.

 

[dpeilow]

 

[Larry Chanin]

What's Holding Back Energy Innovation
Dean Kamen, Elon Musk and J. Craig Venter on how to confront an enormous challenge

Larry

 

[doug]

Watch Billionaire Electric Car Mogul Elon Musk Explain 'BioShock' To Reporter

 

[vfx]

That paint is so pretty on TSLA 10

Finally an exterior shot of the Tesla photo garage.