All of that doesn't mean that there won't be fold flat options in the future. Julian is right in that Tesla's approach has been for Elon Musk to insist on _trying_ to make something exceptional, but the Tesla pattern is consistent: suffer product delays, burn extra cash, sell with options missing because they can't wait any longer, release options later.
I expect the reveal impact on TSLA to be negative, with possible neutral because people _always_ get excited before any Tesla event, the media reaches a crescendo with ridiculously optimistic ideas.
You see here's the thing. Tesla Model X is NOT mission critical to Tesla. It was thought to be mission critical initially to make the 20, 35, 50K unit sales ramp called for in the business plan pre-launch of the Model S.
In the event, Model S did all that without the need for Model X to even exist. Elon therefore has had the luxury of time to do whatever he liked to make the Model X as adventurous and awesome as he pleased and so he took the time. They even waited for the silicon-graphite anode cell to go into production for the 90KWh pack and launched Tesla Energy as an outlet for previous generation cell supply. It is all bear BS to imagine that Tesla is forced to do anything, especially in relation to Model X. Model X was originally supposed to be a simple body shell variant of Model S. By the time Musk was done it turned out to have a 30% parts commonality. Why? Because they did not need to rush Model X to make sales numbers from the Model S skateboard. They hit the objectives of the business plan without it.
Hence the whole thing is a bonus - a free spin of the Elon Musk roulette wheel, you know the one where Musk goes all in on lucky number 7 and there just happens to be a neodymium magnet under number 7.
What Model X means for the business is that the $2.3 billion they raised for the Gigafactory gets cycled through Model X and comes out worth $5 or $6 billion. Which is really kinda cool, I like the idea of Tesla having a greater % ownership in Nevada.
From what I am seeing around here, what we have going in to the Model X unveiling is not a ridiculously optimistic picture, it is a ridiculously pessimistic picture.
Sometimes Musk says this, sometimes Musk says that sometimes he says that the Model X is a phenomenal vehicle and a better SUV than the Model S was a better sedan.
Who here seriously imagines that Musk is going to unveil a phenomenal SUV with second row seats as a work of art that don't fold flat and with a recline control clearly visible on the side that does not work???? Because if there is an opposite of Kool Aide who ever you are, stop, you're drunk on the stuff - which is exactly where the shorts need to be. You know the ones that pay the bills every single time things go exactly in accordance with a rational and pragmatic view of this business.
TSLA @ $248 ($40+ off the ATH) when a phenomenal SUV's second row seats are supposedly unable to offer the functionality of a standard SUV. Looks like it might contain a little bit of upside surprise not just to the shorts but apparently to a number of Longs too. Just a thought.
BTW - if Musk reconfirms confidence in end of year numbers in addition to quashing silly non functioning seat rumors, there is $30 of upside by end of play Thursday.
