At the same time, apparently less than 3000 people developed the Tesla Model S [1], and less than a thousand developed the Tesla Roadster [2]. That might not be an entirely fair comparison.
Tesla would have been a better benchmark than BMW. I believe comparison is not entirely fair for the following reasons:
The Tesla roadster was developed together with Lotus and there were only 1000 units produced. Producing a one-off small batch series is in
another ballpark than real mass production.
For the later models Tesla partnered with Daimler and Toyota. Toyota produces more cars on a single day than Tesla in a whole year.
I'm enthusiastic about what Tesla does but if they want to play with the big guys they'll have to grow up.
The Tesla roadster was developed together with Lotus and there were only 1000 units produced. Producing a one-off small batch series is in another ballpark than real mass production.
For the later models Tesla partnered with Daimler and Toyota. Toyota produces more cars on a single day than Tesla in a whole year.
I'm enthusiastic about what Tesla does but if they want to play with the big guys they'll have to grow up.