Just want to chime in about the $5,000 package:
1. Fred at electrek thinks Tesla basically cheated early buyers, as quoted below:
and
This is categorically false and malicious.
1.1 The price structure of $5,000 package and free supercharge for lifetime was what Tesla could reasonably provide during the ramping up period a.k.a. "production hell" with decent margin and keep the spice flow so to speak.
1.2 I remotely remember that even Andrej Karpathy had to help on the floor/assembly line. This is very costly. There must have been numerous other factors contributing higher cost to make the same kind of cars.
1.3 Tesla literally is improving the whole production process and therefore lowering manufacturing cost day and night and the cars produced now actually cost less, with weekly production of 5,000 Model 3 and continuous ramping up while keeping capex almost flat.
1.4 As Model 3s are produced with less cost for same configuration and consequently, Tesla is able to transfer partial savings new buyers, through reduing price directly AND adjustment of pricing structure, i.e. making the upgrade package free while un-freeing the lifetime supercharge. This essentially is asking buyers pay less upfront and spend more later. This swap of $5,000 package and supercharging mostly likely results costing majority of new buyers less eventually, but it is definitely not for everyone. Once above certain level of supercharging usage, new buyers will pay more. Or in that scenario, $5,000 paying early buyers (someone like Fred) come out better off.
The focal point is, I see no evidence "Tesla solely created that $5,000 package to upcharge early buyers." Instead, Telsa passes over their savings as quick as possible. Remember, if North American demand is not up to its production capability, Tesla could very well start shipping Model 3 to the rest of the world, while keep charging that $5,000. This price change is at least about passing over savings as about pulling demand leverage.
To wrap it up, this statement
is not just bitching, it is
insidious.
1.5 Even right now, Tesla has difficulty to make SR $35,000 Model 3 with decent margin, it can only be achieved through continuously increasing production AND simultaneously improving production process in every possible way.
Should future SR $35,000 Model 3 buyers demand "free" $5,000 upgrade package as everybody before was able to do so? I don't think so. OTOH, If Tesla is able to reduce the cost so dramatically and able to include that as standard, then I'm happy for all new buyers.
2. IMO, electrek is
drifting steadily towards click-baiting centric websites like Business Insider.
Overall, electric publishes short, quick, and shallow posts, with as many graphics/photos/videos as possible, almost to the limit of nauseating your dear eyes. Posts, particularly posts from Fred, are generated to maximize clicks - just compare it with
CleanTechnica.
If I remember correctly, Fred once posted an article just showing how many clicks his website gets overtime. That is probably the most essential for how he (and the business owner) runs the website right now.
It's not for me here to argue against/for the merit/evil of click baiting. But overall with its click-baiting centric approach, it has less and less value - particularly for active TMS members. Often a large portion of posts are just second hand info directly from TMC.
For me personally, I visit less and less.
3. This post of Fred bitching about $5,000 upgrade going "free" and accusing Tesla cheating is totally personal and selfish. He made it very clear he's angry, hurt, and further, accusing Tesla cheated him and other early buyers. I totally understand the angry and hurt part, but go straightforward declaring Tesla cheating? That went way overboard. And well, I won’t be surprised “someone” will pick the cheating part up and put it front and central next Monday, if not already.
Quite a few comments on electrek mentioned about the free Roadster he gets and he defends himself vehemently that he totally deserves it. I have no problem with that. But from his reaction, I can reasonably deduce that if Tesla gave him 10 instead of 1 free Roadster, he would most likely consider himself
still and
totally deserving it. What an entitled ass! He basically believes that he has made so much contribution to Tesla, he probably even fancies himself be appointed to be next Tesla board member or even chair (I admit this sounds personal. OK I agree). I also remembered Fred once bitched about Tesla gave him too little time test driving Model 3 performance.
This entitlement is a very dangerous thing to have and that's why we have Darth Vader. Hopefully Elon has sensed something and I would love to see Elon "Dana Hull"s him from now on Twitter, etc.
Remember that farting unicorn drama? Fred has his unicorn moment and it's time for him to go backstage.
tl;dr
Elon and Tesla:
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Fred/Electrek:
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