LATimes - Tesla: Invest in your EV future

[doug]

Tesla: Invest in your EV future | Up to Speed | Los Angeles Times

As of today, more than 1,000 people have plunked down their five large for the right to buy the Model S, the company said Tuesday. That's an average of more than 20 new depositors a day, and $5 million in deposits. In exchange for that commitment, they get a chance to be near the top of the list to buy the car — which Tesla says will cost $57,490 — along with all the bragging rights of owning an electric car, when it comes out.

And that's the big question: the one that makes plunking down $5,000 on it a speculative move at best. When will the Model S really come out — if ever?

 

[doug]

Musk himself admitted in January that the company loses money on every Roadster it sells, since they cost about $140,000 to build but even the fully-loaded Sport version starts at only $129,500.

This info is a bit dated. I don't think they are still losing money on Roadsters.

 

[graham]

This info is a bit dated. I don't think they are still losing money on Roadsters.

I don't think they ever sold a Roadster which cost $140,000 to make. That was from an audit of predicted costs in the Summer of 2007 long before they were in production and led to Martin's demotion.

Supposedly the $109,000 price tag does not lose money. Also supposedly the raised option prices caused the $98,000 Roadsters to more or less break even.

 

[Tdave]

Fully loaded Sport version does NOT cost $129,500. That's the BASE price of the Sport version. A fully loaded one costs $162,345 (not counting extended warranty and prepaid battery replacement).