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by yalogin 3279 days ago
Even if they hit their production targets, everything hinges on how well and how soon they can get their autnomous feature to work. If Google gets theirs to work and into a production car before Tesla does it will be tough for Tesla. Until then the stock will have good momentum.
2 comments
davedx 3279 days ago
I don't agree with this analysis. The Model 3 is a superior mass market electric car to almost all competitors (only the Chevy Bolt is comparable on cost and range).

Autonomous driving will be a game changer, but it's also vitally important for Tesla to capture the electric vehicle mass market.

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BoorishBears 3279 days ago
The Volt is a more practical competitor to the Model 3, which is part of why I dropped my model 3 reservation for a 2017.

Other reasons include a lackluster test drive of a Model S and my increasing skepticism of Tesla's practices as a company (aggressively selling cars before adding new features at a completely random cadence but claiming model years are unnecessary, promises like AP2 parity, QC failures at 20k cars over several months while also planning to make 20k cars a month, etc.)

But I digress, 40-50 mile range on EV only mode means most people can complete their commutes on EV only with a Volt. I charge at work and at home, so I can get 50 miles to work, 50 miles by lunch, and another 50 miles to go home.

A Volt specced out like mine has a Mobileye sensor for lane keeping assist, ACC, an interior not as needlessly spartan as the 3, 0-30 times slightly faster than last year's Model S 85, and a hatchback.

After driving the Volt I'm really saddened that GM won't push the Volt more. Not a single Model 3 reservation I know wouldn't be better served by a Volt, but most of them had no idea about stuff like the improved 50 mile range. Some even write it off as a hybrid (which it technically is, but they think 1-2 mile range, not 50)

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zionic 3278 days ago
The volt is a great car, just wish they made a cool looking one.
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BoorishBears 3278 days ago
The Gen 2 looks pretty modern. I don't know if it qualifies as cool (I think it does but I bought it already so I'm biased), but it's pleasant to look at and not-Aztec-like the way the Gen 1 was.
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lquist 3279 days ago
Why will it be tough for them? They will be able to figure it out 6 months later. Google can't make that much money in the short term in the grand scheme of this potential market.
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