Model S subsite and design studio being updated

[tomanik]

I think I want a 'very orange' Model S.

<==== +1 - Agreed

 

[AnOutsider]

<==== +1 - Agreed

Do you have a larger pic of your avatar? It actually looks quite sporty and exotic there.

 

[DrDave]

<==== +1 - Agreed

Tesla should definitely consider offering "custom colors" as an upgrade item.

 

[prezpat]

It's now March 5 and still no update to the Design Studio. Does this mean a larger delay in Model S production?

 

[dsm363]

It's now March 5 and still no update to the Design Studio. Does this mean a larger delay in Model S production?

Not necessarily. They've been saying as recently as their last quarterly earning statement that they are on track to start deliveries in July. It could just be a matter of the web team.

 

[AnOutsider]

Wasn't someone told the first week of March? This here is the first full week, so I'd imagine we're well on our way. Technically, they have until the day before the first day of spring (about 2.5 weeks away) to meet the self-imposed "winter" deadline.

Also, it's possible that they can start locking in orders for the earliest production dates without having the design studio fully updated, which would mean the first productions would still start on time.

 

[ckessel]

The website update isn't likely to have much of anything to do with the manufacturing readiness.

 

[prezpat]

On the contrary, how could you begin production of the Model S if you don't have all the options ready to choose?

 

[NigelM]

A small number of Founders Series could easily be dealt with some way other than the website design studio. I'm guessing 100 or less of those, then there are 221 Sig Specials that Tesla could deal with individually if they wanted to; that's arguably even better marketing to your repeat customers. :wink:

My guess is that we'll see something pretty soon anyway.

 

[ElSupreme]

On the contrary, how could you begin production of the Model S if you don't have all the options ready to choose?

The same way cars were produced before the internet.

But really the 'Design Studio' is following the production team. Not the other way around. There is nothing that the production team is waiting on from the 'Design Studio'.

EDIT: Not to mention I would never pick a color without seeing it in person, or at very least a color swatch. Your monitor butchers colors.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

The same way cars were produced before the internet.

But really the 'Design Studio' is following the production team. Not the other way around. There is nothing that the production team is waiting on from the 'Design Studio'.

All the same, if they don't make the March 20 Winter/Spring deadline for the design studio, I'd simply say "shoddy" and hope that such a 'culture', if you will, will not permeate to the actual manufacturing side of the fence!

But, I still think the web design team will make it in just over a couple of weeks if the actual web design work is what's holding them up...

 

[vfx]

To wildly generalize here,

I seems the tech based customers are will to forgive a delayed website that they understand the difficulties of producing but not a delayed car.

(ducking and running...)

 

[AnOutsider]

To wildly generalize here,

I seems the tech based customers are will to forgive a delayed website that they understand the difficulties of producing but not a delayed car.

(ducking and running...)

I don't think there are many difficulties to be honest. It's already coded, they just need to enable more modules. From what I see of their system (poking around from the beginning of this thread), it's well-built and robust enough to just enable new components and go (which I believe they were testing when I stumbled in). It shares underpinnings with the Roadster studio so the pricing aspect is already built, it just needs to be defined in the data returned to the client (right now passing nothing).

I bet they're instead waiting on something else before making some sort of grand announcement about it and the design studio being updated at the same time.

 

[X-RAY]

Geneva Motor Show perhaps? Starts this week. Model S will be shown in Europe for the first time...

 

[prezpat]

Even the Wall Street Journal thinks there might be a bigger struggle starting to emerge...

 

[Norbert]

I'd think we are still so far ahead of production that the design studio coming online is not indicative of any (other) delays.

 

[brianman]

I bet they're instead waiting on something else before making some sort of grand announcement about it and the design studio being updated at the same time.

It's the hovercraft option. Apparently they're worried people will complain about the tan color of the inflatable material, because saddle is apparently so popular.

Robert's gonna kill me...

 

[jcstp]

Geneva Motor Show perhaps? Starts this week. Model S will be shown in Europe for the first time...

Tesla is going to announce something via twitter on the geneva-motorshow today!
Maybe the online design-studio is part of it!

 

[AnOutsider]

They announced 3 phase charging, do you mean there's more?

 

[Lloyd]

They announced 3 phase charging, do you mean there's more?

Yes, They just announced that they will have a leasing program!

http://www.benzinga.com/news/12/03/2400035/tesla-motors-and-athlon-car-lease-announce-first-model-s-leasing-program