Elon Musk: If You Don't Make It at Tesla, You Go Work at Apple

[Dmunjal]

But for the 5% of the time when I need to make a longer than 250 mile trip without stopping for a couple hours every 250 miles, I can't justify owning a second vehicle. Therefore I can't justify owning an electric vehicle for the the other 95% of the driving I do if I can find one vehicle that covers 100% of my needs. Just like 99.999% of the rest of the vehicle market, which is why electric vehicles, Tesla included, remain a niche market with little overall impact.

95% of the time, I'm charging at home for 1/5 the cost of gasoline (free with solar) instead of stopping at a gas station every other week. This saves hundreds of dollars a month.

5% of the time, I charge for 30 minutes (not 2 hours) every 250 miles. Again for free.

All this with world class acceleration and as green as can be.

I'm so glad that most Tesla buyers (SUV already sold out for the next 12 months) aren't waiting for that 100% of their every possible need before buying.

 

[Dyn Tawel]

Let's face it. In Automotive, Tesla is to Apple as Apple was to Microsoft. Innovative upstart vs cash rich fast follower.

 

[nando87]

I don't know how this goes int he US, but in Europe Teslas don't interest quite anyone. They are ugly, or insipid at least, and expensive after all. I suppose in the US it's a posh-ippy and nationalist thing.

 

[jwdsail]

Huh. At this rate, I guess I'll be the last one on the "iCar Skeptic island" pretty soon.

What I mean is, I'm still not convinced that all of this is leading to an Apple-manufactured or even Apple-branded (made by BMW?) car at all.

Apple branded (or not) in-car electronic systems, partnerships with multiple auto manufacturers for future internal systems that may or may not include "self-driving" (*spit!*) technology? In-car entertainment and navigation? Electric systems and the technology to better optimize battery usage and charging? Perhaps even visual systems similar to those Corvette Racing uses for rear-view camera tech? Sure. All of that and more.

I see this as Apple working with other automotive tech companies to develop standards in how these technologies connect and how drivers interact with them, to be a key player, designer, supplier to the industry moving forward.

This is an enterprise play. This is a 10 year ->20 year play. Everyone reads/hears "Apple and Cars" and thinks that will be synonymous with "Apple and Watches"... Maybe they need to think more about it more in "Apple and IBM partnering on Enterprise mobility" terms?

This is a huge potential future market for Ax chips, OS X , etc. And Apple could innovate more and do more than just "build a car". I think building a car is aiming too low.

Let me put it this way. Do you think Apple wants to be the next Tucker, or do they want to be the next Freescale, Bosch, Delphi, or even Allied Signal? Do they want to make maybe one in every 50 cars sold, or have their technology built into the majority of cars sold?

I think anyone waiting for an Apple *car* is going to have a looooooong wait.

I may be the last one here to think so... Shrug.

 

[lowendlinux]

I don't know how this goes int he US, but in Europe Teslas don't interest quite anyone. They are ugly, or insipid at least, and expensive after all. I suppose in the US it's a posh-ippy and nationalist thing.

There's about half a dozen in my little suburb of Stuttgart.

 

[Lennholm]

I don't know how this goes int he US, but in Europe Teslas don't interest quite anyone. They are ugly, or insipid at least, and expensive after all. I suppose in the US it's a posh-ippy and nationalist thing.

They have sold like crazy in Norway and they are steadily increasing across Europe. And ugly? They look better than most other cars, imo.

 

[Dyn Tawel]

I don't know how this goes int he US, but in Europe Teslas don't interest quite anyone. They are ugly, or insipid at least, and expensive after all. I suppose in the US it's a posh-ippy and nationalist thing.

Well, actually they are two a penny where I live in the Hague. Everyone and his brother seems to drive one.

 

[tongxinshe]

That apple watch that is selling really well. What a horrid analogy he made.

With that statement, he should be worried.

"Sold well" doesn't necessarily translates into "designed well", "engineered well" or "innovative".

 

[Aluminum213]

Enlighten me.

Apple has over $175b cash in the bank and Tesla is a publically traded company.

LOL, $175 Billon in cash where exactly?

like I said, you don't know how this works son

 

[ocyrus]

LOL, $175 Billon in cash where exactly?

like I said, you don't know how this works son

Hmm, they don't pay for anything with credit.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...han-those-held-by-most-us-industries-combined

TO answer your question more specifically a vast majority of the cash is held overseas to avoid taxes, but unfortunately that is a nightmare.

 

[Garsun]

Or maybe they leave because they're fed up of working for a ****.

+ Haven't Tesla's cars all be crap so far? Every time they were on Top Gear they just got ripped into for how unpractical they're.

You should go test drive one so that we can discuss the pros and cons of the teslas.
Top Gear went with an amazing script that made a very entertaining show,(I love there shows),unfortunately for Tesla it did not highlight the features that make a Tesla a amazing vehicle.

 

[Rogifan]

Lol, good theory, explains why Apple mention Android so often in keynotes then ..

No it just means Apple shouldn't be doing it.

 

[doelcm82]

Actually, it is. If you're only doing what the competition is doing, you're not going to stand out. Apple will only succeed if it revolutionises a 100+ year old market, so yeah, it definitely is rocket science. Especially as an Apple Car will have to drive in the real world, not only on Apple-approved roads and intersections, it cannot ignore Google Cars, and cannot release CarOS updates that will cause your car to not turn left anymore.

Rest assured. There will be software and hardware issues with Apple cars. Just as there are with Toyotas and even with Teslas:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/08/11/consumer-reports/13914625/

If you're saying that these issues are no big deal for the other car companies, but they would be crushing problems for Apple, remember that Apple's phones, despite all the issues I am sure you could list, continue to have the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. And Tesla's glitches haven't really damaged its reputation.

The experts that Apple has hired to work on this project KNOW how difficult it will be to get into this market. And they know that getting it 100% right 100% of the time is 100% impossible. That universal truth didn't stop their previous employers (e.g., Tesla) from plunging ahead, and it's not going to be the one thing that stops Apple from working toward a car of their own.

 

[thirteen1031]

I'm not at all sure why he felt he had to trash-talk Apple...saving that he's not so brilliant verbally as he is at making cars. Apple putting a toe in the car market isn't the same as Apple competing with Tesla (not yet at least). I mean, for all any of us know, Apple's putting out rumors of going into the car market to keep the curious off the scent of what they're *really* building. IS there an Apple car? Really? Who knows.

That said, he seems to think that a person can't be a Tesla fan and an Apple fan. I mean, is he saying you can't have an iPhone and a Tesla? How are those two in competition? And why would an engineer who wants to work on cars go off and work on a phone, or an engineer who wants to work on phones go off and work on cars? And why is the engineer working on the phone somehow "less" in brilliance than the one working on the car???? Seems to me that someone who wants to work at Tesla would, and if he/she couldn't they'd go to google and the driverless car or work on other electric cars. Not head sideways to create phones.

I mean, I get the idea of spring boarding off Apple's success by implying that those who don't work for Tesla work for Apple (hence, if you love the iPhone, you'll love Teslas even more)...but isn't this comparison...Apples and Teslas?

As for Apple hiring people he's fired, implying that those hired by Apple aren't the best of the best (just Tesla leftovers)...Apple fired Steve Jobs. Just because someone if fired by a company doesn't mean they were fired for not being brilliant enough. Or that the company won't someday regret it and want them back. I mean, I know Elon would like us to think that, but thinking about it...I don't think so.

Oh, well. Not every brilliant, egotistical company CEO's can also be eloquent, glib and able to verbally sell their product.

 

[Glideslope]

Yup. Now he is acting like Steve.

 

[jmmo20]

Apple, buy Tesla already and stop all this nonsense

 

[nando87]

There's about half a dozen in my little suburb of Stuttgart.

They have sold like crazy in Norway and they are steadily increasing across Europe. And ugly? They look better than most other cars, imo.

Well, actually they are two a penny where I live in the Hague. Everyone and his brother seems to drive one.

Yes yes yes, it looks like every Tesla sold in Europe is around you considering they are like 5 per 10 000 between the new cars or something like that. There are more Ferraris and Lamborghinis sold in Germany than Teslas, so I suppose, if Teslas are popular, that Ferraris and Lamborghinis are average Joe. Only not because I live/travel through all those countries so I know thats absurd, and even if I didn't numbers are numbers. But you know, welcome to the internet.

 

[neutralguy]

I don't know how this goes int he US, but in Europe Teslas don't interest quite anyone. They are ugly, or insipid at least, and expensive after all. I suppose in the US it's a posh-ippy and nationalist thing.

of course.. because you guys like cars that run 9 miles in a gallon of gas. How can you like cars that can run 300 miles without any gas..

 

[neutralguy]

I'm not at all sure why he felt he had to trash-talk Apple...saving that he's not so brilliant verbally as he is at making cars. Apple putting a toe in the car market isn't the same as Apple competing with Tesla (not yet at least). I mean, for all any of us know, Apple's putting out rumors of going into the car market to keep the curious off the scent of what they're *really* building. IS there an Apple car? Really? Who knows.

That said, he seems to think that a person can't be a Tesla fan and an Apple fan. I mean, is he saying you can't have an iPhone and a Tesla? How are those two in competition? And why would an engineer who wants to work on cars go off and work on a phone, or an engineer who wants to work on phones go off and work on cars? And why is the engineer working on the phone somehow "less" in brilliance than the one working on the car???? Seems to me that someone who wants to work at Tesla would, and if he/she couldn't they'd go to google and the driverless car or work on other electric cars. Not head sideways to create phones.

I mean, I get the idea of spring boarding off Apple's success by implying that those who don't work for Tesla work for Apple (hence, if you love the iPhone, you'll love Teslas even more)...but isn't this comparison...Apples and Teslas?

As for Apple hiring people he's fired, implying that those hired by Apple aren't the best of the best (just Tesla leftovers)...Apple fired Steve Jobs. Just because someone if fired by a company doesn't mean they were fired for not being brilliant enough. Or that the company won't someday regret it and want them back. I mean, I know Elon would like us to think that, but thinking about it...I don't think so.

Oh, well. Not every brilliant, egotistical company CEO's can also be eloquent, glib and able to verbally sell their product.

I think he was trying to convey his disappointment at Apple for lack of innovation after Steve Jobs. And we all very well know that. To be honest, Apple Watch has not been that appreciated beyond the apple fan base and the apple paid analysts.

 

[Norbs12]

No one should design cars. The risks are too great and it's not worth the exposure. Never take risks.

That's exactly what I'm saying. /s

 

[ricci]

Didn't read through all "500" post ! So if someone mentioned this , my bad!! Does nobody remember that these two companies had meetings together ??? Not sure if it was a buyout or working together or something else for Tesla's can do to help Apple with the car! Now, Apple is in talks with BMW! Please no i3 or whatever they (BMW) have! Tesla hands down has the sexiest cars and designs out their to date ! This would have been the perfect marriage!!

 

[Apple Corps]

Because apple for its entire existence has made computers, tablets, etc. The whole apple army comes into the room as "We will build the worlds best car" etc. Have they made a car before? They have not. So essentially selling wolf tickets is not a good thing until one can actually produce something they are arrogant about.

Tesla can innovate as far as making cars. Can apple? Well until they produce something they need to realize they have alot to prove.

Your explanation makes no sense to me.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Musk wouldn't be talking **** if he wasn't concerned about Apple's potential car. Makes me think he might know something that the rest of us don't about Apple's plans.

Not really. Musk just speaks his mind, it's not indicative of anything else. He also called Toyota's fuel cells "fool cells" and has called out Toyota multiple times over its fuel cell deception. You can't fault the guy for being honest. I've talked with Tesla employees and they corroborate what Musk says. The only people Apple could possibly lure away from Tesla are those who would move only for money or prestige. Those are not the types of employees that Tesla wants in the first place. If you're going to jump ship for money, you're not committed enough to Tesla's mission of accelerating the advent of sustainable transport. What is Apple's mission statement?

 

[ticovelho]

Building cars is not rocket science.

Don't forget....he also makes rockets...

 

[neutralguy]

Benefit how? by using toxic batteries that are difficult to recycle? or by making a 3 ton cars that needs 20x the energy to move at 500bhp?
Where do you think this energy comes from?

Do you even know how energy transfer works?