Comments on: Tesla Backpedals on Model S Factory Promise

By: Gary in Pinellas County

Gary in Pinellas County — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:47:21 +0000

Wow, just another example of our crippled economy serving as "anti-lock brakes" for technological (and overall societal, really) progression. But honestly I am not too surprised. I'm not exactly an expert on all-things financial, but I vaguely remember reading some kind of article or post on CNN Money about Tesla Motors' financial woes. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to wait another 15 years before an all-electric vehicle becomes accessible to the public without having to take out a second mortgage. Thanks.

By: Tesla Snubs Customers for A Couple Million Dollars on Delayed Roadsters « Earth2Tech

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:02:09 +0000

[...] owners), it looks like the price hikes will bring in only a few million dollars for a company that claims to need $200 million in loans to produce a long-promised sedan priced for the mass market — the supposed key to [...]

By: Tesla to Sell Even More Expensive Electric Car « Earth2Tech

Tesla to Sell Even More Expensive Electric Car « Earth2Tech — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:20:58 +0000

[...] Tesla has basically put its cheaper Model S on the back burner (with Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently hedging on whether or not the Model S factory was assured), we don’t think going even more luxury is a good direction [...]

By: Fisker to Reveal Hybrid Convertible Concept, the Karma “Sunset” | Eco Friendly Mag

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:12:33 +0000

[...] If the concept car makes it to real-world production, it could help Fisker forge a distinct path in the green car market — one that leads to a small luxury niche, rather than mass-market scale. According to the most recent available data from auto industry research firm R.L. Polk & Co., convertibles make up only about 2 percent of light-vehicle registrations. For most automakers, they serve more as halo vehicles (designed to boost brand image and lure people into showrooms) for automakers than real sales drivers. For a startup like Fisker, sticking to niche markets could be a smart post-recession bet, as becoming large enough to mass produce vehicles has proven capital intensive enough to cause competitors like Tesla to reconsider broader more mass market plans. [...]

By: Fisker to Reveal Hybrid Convertible Concept, the Karma “Sunset” | Alternative Energy News

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:21:50 +0000

[...] In addition to the production version of its plug-in hybrid sedan, the Fisker Karma, Fisker Automotive plans to show a concept car called the Fisker Karma S (for “Sunset”) at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. What’s unusual about the Sunset is not that it’s a hybrid — the show will feature a gang of those from big automakers this year — but that it appears to be a convertible (suggested by the missing B-pillar). If the concept car makes it to real-world production, it could help Fisker forge a distinct path in the green car market — one that leads to a small luxury niche, rather than mass-market scale. According to the most recent available data from auto industry research firm R.L. Polk & Co., convertibles make up only about 2 percent of light-vehicle registrations. For most automakers, they serve more as halo vehicles (designed to boost brand image and lure people into showrooms) for automakers than real sales drivers. For a startup like Fisker, sticking to niche markets could be a smart post-recession bet, as becoming large enough to mass produce vehicles has proven capital intensive enough to cause competitors like Tesla to reconsider broader more mass market plans. [...]

By: Fisker to Reveal Hybrid Convertible Concept, the Karma “Sunset”

Fisker to Reveal Hybrid Convertible Concept, the Karma “Sunset” — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:07:48 +0000

By: Fisker to Reveal Hybrid Convertible Concept, the Karma “Sunset” « Earth2Tech

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:00:29 +0000

By: BNET Energy mobile edition

BNET Energy mobile edition — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:05:38 +0000

[...] its Model S was a $200 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. [Source: Earth2Tech] posted by Christopher Wink December 30, 2008 @ 6:01 [...]

By: What To Read This Morning

What To Read This Morning — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:54:22 +0000

[...] more bandwidth. [The New York Times] What is Apple going to do with all its cash? [TheAppleBlog] Tesla Backpedals on Model S [Earth2Tech] Tesla’s rough road ahead [Jeff Nolan] Social media trends in 2009. [...]