marsattack

A lot of ignorant posts here. Tesla is doing great. Actually fantastic. That you have a president that likes to make business unstable, as well as media talking down on Tesla every time they have the opportunity (remind you of a certain other company? Hint: It is often featured on this website) doesn't mean Tesla is bad, or that Elon is uncapable of running the company. If anything, Tesla is what it is today because of Elon Musk, much like Apple was Apple because of Steve Jobs. Right now, Tesla needs to get Gigafactory 3 up and running, so they can sell to the Chinese at competitive prices, and you'll see demand and supply explode. After that they have to get Model Y in production, as well as Gigafactory 4 in Europe. At the same time the Roadster and Semi will go in to production. Their recent Maxwell aquisition is also very interesting, and will make Tesla even more competitive (they already produce the best lithium batteries, at the cheapest prices on the market), as it will increase their production capacity and reduce costs, as well as it will open up for even more saving on the batterypack-level, as the Maxwell dry-batteries have a higher energy density than Tesla's already record high lithium-ion batteries.

80s_Apple_Guy said:

That would be terrible. Tesla is a doomed brand no matter what happens. If electric cars take off, the current crop of auto manufacturers will produce then in mass and with their greater experience, ability to offset losses with the gas engine cars and manufacturing capacity blow Tesla out of the market for affordables. High end manufacturers will make high end luxury and blow them out there. 

If electric cars become a passing fad Tesla fails. 

So either way Tesla fails. 

Ready to eat your hat in a few years? Tesla has been doomed to fail for several years by now. At this rate, it's the same as saying Sony or Apple will go bankrupt one day; eventually it'll come through.
High-end manufacturers have just started to manufacture real EVs to compete with Tesla, and so far, Tesla is far superior in drivetrain technology, battery supply and IP belonging so batterychemistries, as well as having vertical integration in their battery supply, which today is as essential, as making your own engine as an ICE manufacturer once was. Drivetrain vehicle efficiency is also way better than most of its competitors, meaning, Tesla can make EVs that travel further on less energy, meaning they can put smaller/cheaper batterypacks in the vehicles, to match thos of its competitors, as well as having 8+ years of experience in EVs in general, knowing what to expect of service needs etc.
VW is finally walking the walk, later this year (so actually still talking the talk), and will start production of their ID.3 later this year, with deliveries starting early next year. And although they have promised millions and millions, their initial production capacity will only match that of Hyundai or KIA, which produce some 30.000 units a year. Tesla makes 10-15 times more annualy...or approximately the same ONE month. And before you go and say that all the other manufacturers only have to switch over to simple EV production, and Tesla will be doomed (ok, you already stated this), then I can tell you, that battery supply isn't exactly exceeding demand right now, so there's a huge constraint right there, and it won't be solved within the next few months wither. Again, Tesla has a huge leg up over the established manufacturers there.