[clouddrover]

> Tesla will be fine, for several reasons

Tesla will be fine as a niche manufacturer. Jaguar's been around for a long time and they've always been a low volume manufacturer. Tesla can be the same.

> 1. They're way ahead of everyone else in terms of energy efficiency.

The Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro EV, and the Kia Soul EV all achieve good range at a lower price point than Tesla offers.

> 2. Super chargers - other manufacturers have to rely on really spotty networks of third-party charging stations that are unreliable

Ionity in Europe is a joint venture between many manufacturers. Hyundai just recently joined: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hyundai-kia-ionity-electr...

Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint now have roaming agreements which simplify charging for their users and makes the separate CCS networks act more like one large CCS network: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/evgo-electrify-america-ch...

Mercedes in Europe has agreements with the European charging networks to allow all charging billing to be done through the owner's Mercedes Me account.

At this point it would be much better if Tesla switched their chargers and cars to CCS instead of persisting with a proprietary plug. If Tesla is interested in promoting EV usage (which they claim is their mission) then they will also allow all EVs to charge at their chargers, just like Teslas can charge at CCS chargers today.

> 3. Tesla actually wants to sell EVs.

Volkswagen has invested more money into EVs than anyone: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-electric-insig...

[novok]

Really? The gap isn’t that much, about $2200 looking at a before subsidy price. And the interior of the korean EVS are pretty cheap compared to the model 3, so if tesla wanted to they could make a tesla that uses cheap materials and doesn’t ship with special sensors. Call it the model 1.

What holds me back is more a unknown / bad record of reliability with tesla and a lack of charging infrastructure in apartments for me.

[clouddrover]

> so if tesla wanted to they could make a tesla that uses cheap materials and doesn’t ship with special sensors. Call it the model 1.

Could they? So why don't they? The 35k Model 3 didn't go too well. Why will this Model 1 do better for Tesla?

It's difficult to target multiple segments simultaneously. You need the scale of a company like Volkswagen to do it successfully. Tesla is headed for a decision point on the kind of car company they want to be. They'll probably choose to stay low volume:

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/29960/teslas-hero-cycle-leads-...

[novok]

The reason why is because they were not targeting creating a low end bog standard plastic cheap car that the kona represents for the model 3. The cabin differences would have to be too big to deliver it as a trim.

Technologically I would see the model 1 being mostly the same platform as the model 3 with a cabin expressly designed for cheapness everywhere. So standard handles, standard ac, a 2 din stereo, everything plastic, only mirrors and cloth and no power seats. Kind of like the iphone xr with aluminum and an LCD. Make a platform variation is not that difficult.

That would make it bridge the gap and probably beat the kona price wise

[clouddrover]

> The cabin differences would have to be too big to deliver it as a trim.

So it's too difficult for Tesla to deliver. You agree with me: Hyundai's got Tesla beat on range at the price point.

> That would make it bridge the gap and probably beat the kona price wise

"Probably" is not a practical reality. The car you're talking about doesn't exist. The Kona EV, the Niro EV, and the Soul EV do exist. Hyundai is ahead here.