Wow. Pretty dramatic take. From a distance, you seem more rational than that.
Look, the same info (more or less) could have been imparted without actual sound bites like "We dug our own grave with Cybertruck". Is he that dumb (I know he isn't, but stay with me here), to not realize that the OBVIOUS retort/question is "Why the hell didn't you create a normal pickup truck then?". Does he think Tesla's brand is that weak that only something that looks different than a Chevy could sell? Doesn't he realize that NO ONE ELSE is selling EV trucks at any volume because they all suck in some way? Ford Lighting isn't even a bad truck, well except for the
range, but they can't make it in volume since they don't have the battery supply.
I am really starting to think Elon's strategic thinking is messed up here. He was anti-selling the $25K car because it was a "boring ordinary car". Who the **** cares Elon? Give me a $25K Tesla and I'll sell a million of them, boring styling and cheap interior or not.
I'm realizing that the Model X wasn't a one of mistake. That vehicle, which could have been THE soccer mom car, was cost crippled because of those flashy but ultimately pointless falcon wing doors. Rivian is selling as many R1S SUVs as they can make, even with their inflated prices (imagine how much cheaper Tesla could make the R1S), because it is JUST A CAR, with a form factor that people like. Does it have cold gas thrusters? Does it have flappy wing doors? Does it have sub 2 second acceleration? No, and it doesn't have to to sell tons.
Elon was dragged kicking and screaming to make a $25K car with a steering wheel. Speaking of wheels, how was his intuition on wheel vs yoke? I even like my yoke, but it turns out it was a market dud. Thanks Elon for crippling Model S/X sales for a while until you figured that one out.
Yeah the Cybertruck
might turn out to be great. But it has cost Tesla at least a year delay in getting a truck to market. And apparently margins on it are going to suck if you believe (checks notes), some guy named Elon.
Most of the rest of the call was taken up with Elon giving reasons why no one can afford his cars. Yes, it was more nuanced than that. Think the press will explain the nuance?
Look, I continue to think Tesla has a bright future, but gawd that call didn't paint that picture.