[thomaskcr]

> Tesla is achieving vertical integration to a degree no other mainstream auto OEM has achieved.

Tesla has made a lot of claims - volumetric efficiency, worrying about air resistance, when Musk toured the Toyota factory there was talk of them moving at granny pace. After the worlds most dramatic production ramp they still have yet to reach the capacity at Freemont of their predecessors (GM/Toyota).

Vertical integration represents the biggest issues with Tesla, a lack of focus. During the ramp of their mass production car, they went and bought Musk's cousin's company for a product that didn't even actually get released until basically this year. I don't see how that is a competitive advantage.