[benj111]

Not compared to manufacturers with decades of experience no. But making cars is hard. Starting Tesla from a clean sheet is impressive.

Think about all the Chinese manufacturers, that for years were churning out the butts of jokes. How many of those would have survived in an actual competitive market?

[talideon]

Except Musk didn't start Tesla, he bought it. Yes, he gets referred to as a "founder", but that's a whole other sordid story.

[benj111]

No. But he took it from the proverbial garden shed to a global company.

I'm not a musk fan boy, but what he did with Tesla is impressive.

Compared to the company they were buying chassis from (lotus). If someone took lotus to the size of Tesla in less than 2 decades, would you not say that's impressive?

Starting a boutique sports car manufacturer is 'relatively' easy. Making a global car company, not so much.

[talideon]

Yeah, his skill is in hucksterism. That can be used for good (Tesla), but it can also be used for ill (all the hyperloop nonsense). But he's still a huckster.