Musk endeavours

[odysseus2000]

BobbyD
The Audi eTron Has Now Outsold Tesla Model X And S

Summary
Audi eTron has been on sale for approximately two full months and I analyze its sales numbers - thus far from Europe and the U.S.

I then compare those sales numbers against its three sole competitors in the market: Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S, and Jaguar i-Pace.

The Audi was the best seller in Europe in April and increasingly so in May. When adding the U.S. numbers, it essentially matched the Model S and X.

In May, the Audi eTron broke out and became the segment best seller in these geographies combined.

The competitive impact on Tesla’s global sales (and margin) opportunity will only worsen for each year as approximately 200 electric cars make it to market by the end of 2022.

So a new model that the Audi lovers want is selling, but how many Audi lovers are there?

Everyone knows the S & X are to be re-freshed so are Tesla buyers are waiting for the new models.

Trying to argue that a few sales figures make trends or that 200 models of varying makers is going to change things is premature, especially given the big shortages of batteries.

Regards,

[BobbyD]

So a new model that the Audi lovers want is selling, but how many Audi lovers are there?

Audi sold 1.8 million cars last year and made 3.5 billion euros in the process.

So quite a few.

Everyone knows the S & X are to be re-freshed so are Tesla buyers are waiting for the new models.

I would be, albeit I'd be waiting for the Taycan or the e-tron GT...

Trying to argue that a few sales figures make trends or that 200 models of varying makers is going to change things is premature, especially given the big shortages of batteries.

Trying to deny that hundreds of models of BEV coming to market isn't going to squeeze Tesla is denial...

Not long ago BMW was the poster car for petrol heads, now its Audi & they have just shot themselves in the foot by releasing the Frankenstein etron which sits at the bottom of the performance table.

If I was wanting to hurt the VW fan club I can't think of a better way than making and selling a Frankenstein car that has a performance that puts it at the bottom of the table of EV cars and then coming out with market hype to distract and muddy the waters to try and hide all of this as some sign that VW are doing something more practical than the competitors.

Classic dieselgate thinking!

Comparing the clunker Frankenstein car of the e-ton & noting it is cheaper to insure than the model S tells me nothing useful.

Good call...

[odysseus2000]

Yes, Audi did sell 1.8 million cars, but they are losing market share:

https://www.best-selling-cars.com/brand ... worldwide/

I doubt that the Frankenstein etron will do well going forwards, it is just a stop gap that will dissapoint many Audi lovers imho.

Regards,

[BobbyD]

Yes, Audi did sell 1.8 million cars, but they are losing market share:

https://www.best-selling-cars.com/brand ... worldwide/

I doubt that the Frankenstein etron will do well going forwards, it is just a stop gap that will dissapoint many Audi lovers imho.

Regards,

From your own source:

the Ingolstadt-based carmaker reaffirmed its position as the most successful premium brand for the 30st year in succession

Yes, Audi did sell 1.8 million cars, but they are losing market share:

https://www.best-selling-cars.com/brand ... worldwide/

I doubt that the Frankenstein etron will do well going forwards, it is just a stop gap that will dissapoint many Audi lovers imho.

Regards,

You've kept that opinion to yourself for so long...

[PeterGray]

So a new model that the Audi lovers want is selling, but how many Audi lovers are there?

Quite a few. Probably more than the demographic who lust after Teslas. We can have endless, nearly pointless, arguments along these lines. But if you seriously deny that Tesla faces immense headwinds against the established, large manufacturers - who have reputation, experience at keeping customers happy during the lifetime of a car, experience in efficient production, and deep pockets then I think you are making a large mistake.

I'm not denying Tesla can succeed, I never have, but the idea that "legacy auto" is some sort of out of date dinosaur that is bound to fail is nonsense.

[odysseus2000]

Panasonic 3 amp hour 18650 cells now retailing for $3each +$30 shipping in US:

https://www.evwest.com/catalog/product_ ... nffutrhtd6

Interesting how prices are falling and one wonders what price Tesla pay.

Regards,

[BobbyD]

Using Names Like 'Autopilot' For Assistance Systems Is Misleading, Survey Suggests
The IIHS has published a new study that suggests the names of some driver assistance systems - like Tesla's 'Autopilot' - are misleading drivers as to their capabilities

It should come as no surprise that a new study from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has found that drivers massively overestimate the capabilities of vehicle automation systems. Nor should it shock that exactly how the tech is titled seems to be a factor in how its functionality is perceived.

The IIHS gave over 2000 drivers the names of five assistance systems, omitting the brand each belonged to. Autopilot (Tesla), Traffic Jam Assist (Audi/Acura), Super Cruise), Driving Assistant Plus (BMW) and ProPilot Assist (Nissan) were all on the list. Without being told anything other than the name of each, the participates were asked if particular actions were safe while using the systems.

The result? 48 per cent reckoned it was safe to take their hands off the wheel while using Autopilot, compared to 33 per cent for Pro Pilot and 21 per cent for Traffic Jam Assist.

- https://www.carthrottle.com/post/people ... l-systems/

The public thinks Tesla’s Autopilot is safer than it is, an insurance group says

or years, automakers have been offering driver-assist technologies on many new cars. The software and sensors can help drivers stay in their lane, maintain a steady speed and, in some cases, change lanes to avoid other vehicles.

But drivers don’t fully understand the technologies’ capabilities and limitations, according to a study released Thursday by a leading insurance industry group.

That disconnect between what tech can do and what people think it can do leads to risky driver behavior that has resulted in crashes, injuries and deaths, and it could provoke a backlash against potentially life-saving driverless cars, said the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is funded by auto insurance companies.

- https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/ ... story.html

Tesla's Autopilot Found Most Likely to Confuse Drivers on Safety

Automakers including Tesla Inc. are stoking confusion among motorists by choosing names for their automated-driving systems that wrongly suggest they’re more capable than is actually the case, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Almost half of respondents to an IIHS survey considered it safe to drive with their hands off the steering wheel when using a system called Autopilot, the nonprofit vehicle-safety advocate said Thursday. That’s the name Tesla chose for its driver-assistance system that’s been in use during several fatal crashes since 2016.

...

Wild video shows a Model 3 owner asleep at the wheel on a California freeway

Tesla’s Autopilot feature certainly helps to remove some of the stress associated with driving, but it’s definitely not designed to allow drivers to completely fall asleep at the wheel. And while Elon Musk envisions a future where drivers will be able to sleep through an entire car ride, the AI technology required for that to become a reality isn’t anywhere close to being ready.

Unfortunately, some Tesla owners have a tendency to use the Autopilot feature in unintended ways, despite some notable safeguards Tesla has implemented in recent years. During the early incarnation of Autopilot, for example, you may recall one Tesla owner actually recorded himself hopping into the backseat while his car was driving along a local road. More recently, we’ve seen a few instances of Tesla owners falling asleep at the wheel, and the video below is perhaps the most harrowing example we’ve seen yet.

- https://bgr.com/2019/06/19/tesla-autopi ... a-freeway/

Tesla Autopilot Safety Stats Said Imbued With Statistical Fallacies, Interpret Cautiously

- https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot ... f40ac83d7f

Who saw that coming?

[BobbyD]

Tesla owners see battery range drop after software update to ‘improve longevity’

Many owners of older Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles are reporting their max range dropping significantly after a recent software update.

Tesla says that they released the update to “protect the battery and improve longevity.”

...Only Model S and Model X vehicles with 85 kWh battery packs, which were discontinued in 2016, seem to be affected at this point.

Tesla owner David Rasmussen got one of the most severe drops we have seen so far.

He told Electrek:

“My 2014 Model S 85 was getting Rated Range of 247 miles until May 13. Now after the next update, it continued to drop to now 217 miles. This is an 11% drop in 5 weeks.”

Rasmussen has been plotting the battery capacity degradation of his Model S over the last 100,000 miles or so and the recent drop is quite obvious:

- https://electrek.co/2019/06/20/tesla-ba ... longevity/

[odysseus2000]

FIrst UK model 3 reaching buyers:

https://youtu.be/_Z-LXrEhcEs

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

A UK buyer who likes is model 3:

https://twitter.com/MickPaul4/status/11 ... 6487667713

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

Owning a model 3 changed my life:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/22/ho ... d-my-life/

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

NYT spreads misinformation:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/22/ny ... -the-mess/

Regards,

[BobbyD]

NYT spreads misinformation:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/22/ny ... -the-mess/

Regards,

In an article by Ivan Penn published this weekend, the New York Times has stretched the truth beyond breaking point to suggest that EVs cannot make the LA–Las Vegas–LA round trip without needing over 5 hours of charging. Let’s clean up their mess.

Here's the article: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/22/busi ... rging.html

Here's the quote:

I rode with representatives of EVgo, a company that is building fast-charging stations across the country. On top of the eight hours or so that we were actually on the road, we spent close to five and a half hours charging the car.

Who is stretching the truth beyond breaking point?

[odysseus2000]

Audi etron adaptive assist:

https://youtu.be/vjsfMmJ4AiM

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

Model 3 in a boring tunnel:

https://teslamotorsclub.com/blog/2019/0 ... t-116-mph/

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

Tesla myth busters:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/23/ou ... yths-page/

Interesting to see all the common myths listed and compared to the reality.

Regards,

[Howard]

Tesla myth busters:

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/06/23/ou ... yths-page/

Interesting to see all the common myths listed and compared to the reality.

Regards,

Ody

Have you read the article? I couldn't really understand it as it was so badly laid out. Surely Tesla deserves something better than this to defend it?

It seems to add to the confusion about the company rather than to concisely support it.

Two examples:

It says there is no cash problem. But then, why did Tesla need to raise cash?

Also it hypes Tesla theoretical safety scores, whilst ignoring the number of Tesla drivers who have died in their cars. Sadly 24 drivers have been killed in Teslas since 2014 and, given the small number of cars sold compared with other manufacturers, this is a worrying statistic by any measure. See Tesladeaths.com.

There may be other unprovable claims.

In the end, Tesla is going to thrive or fail on its success in selling cars at a profit.

As the Model 3 is now available in the UK, let's hope someone buys one and lets us know their experience with the car. At around £40k the car is surely a bargain, as the sceptics would suggest Tesla shareholders are subsidising every model made, not to mention us UK taxpayers offering grants for EVS plus the US Government and possibly the State of California!

regards

Howard

[odysseus2000]

Yes, I read the article, seemed sensible to me:

Statement of something Tesla connected

Statement of countering myth

Statement of reality.

Re your other points:

If a business can, if need be, raise cash, how can it have a cash problem? A business has a cash problem when it needs cash and can't raise it. Sure a business that can fund itself out of cash flow is better still and the belief is that Tesla will do that, if not and no prospect of so doing, then it will not be able to borrow and will fail. Tesla is as far as I can tell no where near that state.

In the UK alone there are 10 deaths or serious injuries on the roads everyday (over 3000 per year) and over the world a whole lot more. Every death is a tragedy and we as a species need to do everything we can to reduce the number. In the context the number of Tesla deaths is small. The safety tests are designed to protect drivers from the most probable accidents and as such are a useful guide to car buyers.

I don't understand how Tesla share holders are subsidising every 3, given that they are being sold, according to the Monroe analysis, at around a 20% margin.

Additionally every manufacturer gets grants, business support and such. Traditional ice cars have also been forgiven for all the pollution they create both CO2, hydro carbon releases, brake dust, used oils... Tesla cars are much clearer in any objective comparison.

The battle for Tesla now is to continue to build on its technical lead and to continue to develop its service and repair infrastructure.

Regards,

[odysseus2000]

James May on the model S:

https://drivetribe.com/p/great-car-crap ... vb6jascKNg

2nd video of ludicrous mode is amusing, finally waking James up from his slumber like wait for the lights to change.

Regards,

[Howard]

A good omen for electric cars?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48762911

I didn't realise that Paris was so polluted.

regards

Howard

PS The very hot forecast for the next few days may increase the pressure for action.