The world has changed from the early days of the automotive industry. When I was born, there were people alive who remembered the invention of automobiles. Today everybody takes them for granted. No longer is association with a race driver necessary for the success of a car or car company. I'll bet that not one out of a hundred people you approach on the street know who Louis Chevrolet is, or that the Chevy name came from a racer. I sure didn't, until I read spatterso911's post above.
Fifty years ago an individual could make an invention in his garage and turn it into a company with a chance of success. Today it takes teams of engineers and hundreds of millions of dollars, and car buyers want economy, or style, or a car that fulfills some fantasy. A brand-new invention may come up in the old way, but the automotive industry is mature and there is no need for a car company to build a fantasy car. (E.g. a race car so expensive nobody but a multi-millionaire can afford it but people can pretend they own one when they're driving the same company's family car.)
The Roadster served its purpose: It showed what an electric car can be, at a price that they could sell 2,500 of them. There's no reason for Tesla not to build another, once they have the resources, but there's no need to, and it would be counterproductive to divert resources from their push towards an affordable car at this time.
That's the bottom line: To get to an affordable mass-market EV as quickly as possible, Tesla is much better off with its present plan, than if it diverted limited resources to building a super car. Once they are producing affordable EVs as fast as they can sell them, in enough styles, sizes, and ranges to satisfy the market, then they can put some engineers to work back in the performance sports car or racing car niche. It's a question of priorities and timing. This is not yet the time for another Roadster.
Fifty years ago an individual could make an invention in his garage and turn it into a company with a chance of success. Today it takes teams of engineers and hundreds of millions of dollars, and car buyers want economy, or style, or a car that fulfills some fantasy. A brand-new invention may come up in the old way, but the automotive industry is mature and there is no need for a car company to build a fantasy car. (E.g. a race car so expensive nobody but a multi-millionaire can afford it but people can pretend they own one when they're driving the same company's family car.)
The Roadster served its purpose: It showed what an electric car can be, at a price that they could sell 2,500 of them. There's no reason for Tesla not to build another, once they have the resources, but there's no need to, and it would be counterproductive to divert resources from their push towards an affordable car at this time.
That's the bottom line: To get to an affordable mass-market EV as quickly as possible, Tesla is much better off with its present plan, than if it diverted limited resources to building a super car. Once they are producing affordable EVs as fast as they can sell them, in enough styles, sizes, and ranges to satisfy the market, then they can put some engineers to work back in the performance sports car or racing car niche. It's a question of priorities and timing. This is not yet the time for another Roadster.
