[audunw]

I think in some ways VW group has more experience with making/selling EVs than Tesla. They might not have the volumes of a single model, but they’ve been selling a much wider range of models than Tesla has for a fairly long time now.

They still have a few years to improve their EVs, and when people really start to switch their gas cars with EVs in large volumes they have the benefit of being well established while having a wide range of model that can replace any of their old gas car offerings.

I’m not 100% sure that Teslas strategy of superoptimizing 3-4 bland models is a winning strategy in the very long run. People like to buy cars that fit their needs and personality.

Tesla is taking way too long to develop interesting models, and the Cybertruck, while interesting, might be too weird and flawed to be a big international success in the long run.

Though if the bet on robotaxis pay off, I could see Tesla being a huge success in the future as well. I’m just not sure if that’s going to actually happen. Or if Elon will bet too much of their development efforts on it too early, and thus run out of steam before it takes off.

[dzhiurgis]

> I’m not 100% sure that Teslas strategy of superoptimizing 3-4 bland models is a winning strategy in the very long run. People like to buy cars that fit their needs and personality.

Buying mass produced car is the most environmentally friendly way - it has least manufacturing, repairs, customisation footprint. I do agree people are sick of seeing same model 3/y everywhere which is depressing thought.

[oblio]

VW and all major car makers have platforms, which basically mean you get the same car, with a different skin, and a range of different accessories.

VW basically sells the same car through 4-5 different brands.

[dzhiurgis]

What percentage is the same?

Also, even if VW has a platform they still sell 10x less cars than Tesla.

[oblio]

> What percentage is the same?

Don't ask me, ask VW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_platf...

A lot, I guess, otherwise VW wouldn't have become the #1 manufacturer in the world back in 2016 and wouldn't remain #2 even now.

> Also, even if VW has a platform they still sell 10x less cars than Tesla.

Be careful with that Reality Distortion Field, it's powerful stuff. No.

VW sold 5x more <<cars>> than Tesla (2023 data).

VW sold 60% fewer <<BEV cars>> than Tesla. VW sold ~800k, Tesla sold around 1.8m (also 2023 data).

The facts say:

1. VW has been using platforms for decades, they're good at it, they think they're preferable to having 1-2-3 models.

2. Their sales numbers for vehicles based on platforms seem to back up their thinking.

3. VW is slowly ramping up regarding BEV sales, but growing quite fast (~40% per year; about the same growth rate as Tesla).

4. Long term VW almost for sure will bridge the gap, they will be a major player for BEVs. Time will tell which position, exactly.

[ffsm8]

> Or if Elon will bet too much of their development efforts on it too early, and thus run out of steam before it takes off.

According to his own admission, they'd have been insolvent around the time he went on to promise full self driving and claiming that Teslas will be able to become unstaffed taxis in early 2010. Ballooning it's valuation and solving the solvency issue by selling of some stocks.

The only surprising thing is how people still but into it, over a decade later. Wanna bet there is going to be another large sell of Tesla stock after the latest announcement?