I think you have the right idea. Most people forget the fact that Tesla is actually an engineering company much the same as Apple has become. Tesla develops technology that goes into a car (I believe even their car shells are acquired not developed by them) so it's not the same as say Ford designing and building a car. Similarly, Apple is engineering technology that goes into existing devices, of course they also re-engineer the existing devices as well, (i.e. let's reinvent the watch...bam...this watch is your computer, your phone and your car keys...and oh yeah while Samsung's has an alarm, ours alerts you to important stuff, ya know like a heart attack) that's why they rock.
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Tesla CEO Confirms 'Conversations' With Apple, Says Any Acquisition 'Very Unlikely'
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I think you have the right idea. Most people forget the fact that Tesla is actually an engineering company much the same as Apple has become. Tesla develops technology that goes into a car (I believe even their car shells are acquired not developed by them) so it's not the same as say Ford designing and building a car. Similarly, Apple is engineering technology that goes into existing devices, of course they also re-engineer the existing devices as well, (i.e. let's reinvent the watch...bam...this watch is your computer, your phone and your car keys...and oh yeah while Samsung's has an alarm, ours alerts you to important stuff, ya know like a heart attack) that's why they rock.
As much as I think it would be cool to see an iTesla car, I can tell you that developing cars requires a lot of resources and, generally, in good times, generates below average returns, and, in bad times, burns capital like crazy.
It's those capital burning bad times that fit to the old saying:
"How does one make
a small fortune
in the car business?
One starts with
a large fortune."
It's those capital burning bad times that fit to the old saying:
"How does one make
a small fortune
in the car business?
One starts with
a large fortune."
I don't see Apple acquiring Tesla, but man, that would be amazing. Two companies with the same philosophy, almost perfectly aligned. Likewise, Apple really should have acquired Nest before Google did. I would love to see Apple start branching out into some more consumer items. I know that's a slippery slope and could lead to a loss of focus (see Sony, Samsung), but Apple's design could be so great in so many consumer products.
Elons main goal is to get a person on Mars...Tesla ect are just side jobs to create the $$$ to get there!
Elon musk is a bit of a moron.
1. Got in a lawsuit over top gear over giving the Tesla roadster a bad review. Then throwing data at the issue which in my humble little opinion was bull. Most of top gear complaints was range and reliability.
2. Defensive over the Tesla fire.
3. Rips off iOS 6 iPad interface to the last microbit.
4. Defensive over NY times writer experience on range once again.
Honestly, I just would stay away from their cars. Especially if you actually drive your car in colder more demanding conditions. The car is mostly electrical underneath, and electrics are disaster in all cars they break faster IMO.
I will say though, for an american car it looks really safe, seeing the crash tests on YouTube.
Also seems really practical with space thanks to its unreliable electric batteries and motor.
1. Got in a lawsuit over top gear over giving the Tesla roadster a bad review. Then throwing data at the issue which in my humble little opinion was bull. Most of top gear complaints was range and reliability.
2. Defensive over the Tesla fire.
3. Rips off iOS 6 iPad interface to the last microbit.
4. Defensive over NY times writer experience on range once again.
Honestly, I just would stay away from their cars. Especially if you actually drive your car in colder more demanding conditions. The car is mostly electrical underneath, and electrics are disaster in all cars they break faster IMO.
I will say though, for an american car it looks really safe, seeing the crash tests on YouTube.
Also seems really practical with space thanks to its unreliable electric batteries and motor.
The recent news of Apple being very interested in cars and the fact that one of the star features of the Model S is the big touch screen suggest a collaboration. The first thing I wanted to do in the brand new porsche was rip out that ugly out dated touch screen and put in an ipad/ipad mini
Maybe a new more charismatic CEO? Like in the past as Apple bought Next to get Steve Jobs on board.
Interessting article: http://thenextweb.com/apple/2014/02/17/apple-bought-tesla/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
I get what you mean Musk is easily one of the best CEO's today but the difference is Apple brought back its co-founder/CEO.
Many uninformed posts about this and in my opinion, too much reading into the tea leaves and seeing things that aren't there.
*Full disclosure, I am holding a long position in TSLA.
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You think Elon Musk is charismatic?
I follow Tesla as closely as I follow Apple and I'll tell you that Elon Musk does not have the same stage presence as Steve Jobs. Good CEO? Absolutely. Same level of charisma? Jobs was on a level all to his own.
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You apparently haven't read anything deeper than the headlines and seen footage of the cross country Model S Cannonball Run.
*Full disclosure, I am holding a long position in TSLA.
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You think Elon Musk is charismatic?
I follow Tesla as closely as I follow Apple and I'll tell you that Elon Musk does not have the same stage presence as Steve Jobs. Good CEO? Absolutely. Same level of charisma? Jobs was on a level all to his own.
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You apparently haven't read anything deeper than the headlines and seen footage of the cross country Model S Cannonball Run.
I loved the idea of Tesla a few years ago but with bricked cars, wildly over-hyped range and other issues I have to say it's as overhyped as Mezut Ozil.
Also, I don't think Nicola Tesla would have had a car bearing his name lugging heavybatteries. He'd have wirelessy beamed the electricity, no doubt about it.
Also, I don't think Nicola Tesla would have had a car bearing his name lugging heavybatteries. He'd have wirelessy beamed the electricity, no doubt about it.
ONLY IDEOLOGY can not Pave The Way !
You're YOUNG and NAÏVE.
It is Elon Musk who Knows that.
The Reality is on The Contrary, I Think.
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SoRry, Your Designing Sense is Under Par.
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Never Happen !
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I 'm SURE You'reESPIONAGE MasterMinded by The VILLAIN !
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Strange, Strange !
i-Car Has been Steve's ( Of Course that " STEVE ") DREAM, We Know through His Interview with N.Y.Times.
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There Seem to Be Gethering Lot of Lackay of Villain HERE
Elon is the new Steve Jobs to me. This guy is really nice (unlike Steve) and has an incredible drive and has the smarts. The only thing he's really missing is public speaking skills. He could really use some coaching in that department.
Tesla's first car (the Roadster) was their battery and drivetrain technology put into "gliders" (car shells) purchased from Lotus in England. The Model S and all subsequent cars were designed by Tesla from scratch. Their engineering is on par with the Germans but their electric and battery technology is unmatched.
Everything Tesla does is in the same vein as Apple. From the way the car is designed, built, marketed, sold and serviced is just like Apple would do if they were in the car business. Well, maybe not marketing because Tesla doesn't advertise (yet).
Anyone interested in knowing more about Tesla should at least watch this National Geographic Documentary on the factory and how they build it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzEQZBImhpY
If you want an inside view of Tesla during the 2007-2010 period (how they almost went out of business because of the economic crisis) you need to watch "Revenge of the Electric Car" documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dUB6HO3Xw
Tesla had a monumental amount of work and obstacles to overcome to make the Model S a reality. Since production began in June 2012 they've been on a roll and executing their business plan quite well, with a few hiccups along the way. Their next car, Model X, has been delayed until spring of next year to make it "right". But the real car they set out to build has always been what they call their "Gen III" (Generation 3), a mass-market, lower-cost, high-volume car with a price of $35K. It's planned for release in 2017. *THAT* is the car will make Tesla a house-hold name because it's in the sweet spot for pricing. Tesla will shortly announce their plans to build the world's largest battery factory just to supply enough batteries for the car which will have an estimated production of 200-300K cars a year!
Tesla is doing it right: start at the high-end and work your way down as the technology matures and the costs come down. You can't be in the car market as a startup and make an affordable electric car when you're not an established name with gobs of money and selling other cars floating you along while you try and "get it right". None of the other EVs have the range, the technology and the proper fast-charging infrastructure like Tesla does to make their cars really attractive to the masses. Yeah, the Model S is expensive, but that's on purpose so that those early adopters pay for the R&D and the SuperCharger infrastructure that the mass-market car will benefit from. Really smart way to go about it if you ask me.
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"the company needs to stay "super focused" on its goal of creating an affordable electric car"
They certainly do. Their current models (though very nice) are nowhere near what I would consider affordable.
They certainly do. Their current models (though very nice) are nowhere near what I would consider affordable.
Elon certainly wants to get to Mars. Battery storage technology, rockets, rockets landing on thrusters instead of parachutes, pressurised travel pods, solar power. Apple investing in a Mars base would be a long term play.
But beyond that Elon is also visionary. He doesn't care how things are normally done, he thinks differently, and wants to help the human race evolve. Apple would benefit from having him, but it would also suffer for it I think.
A merger could work brilliantly if done right - but much easier said than done. Elon is a perfectionist and seems to be working far too hard currently. Apple could potentially free him up to focus on the innovation and fine tuning (as well as putting the financial muscle for mass investment in a new thing), much as Tim Cook made things work at Apple while Steve Jobs used his strengths. But it feels like Elon Musk would fit better in an independent creative group than actually integrated into Apple.
So yeah I think it's unlikely. Perhaps the meeting was about Apple and Tesla's desire to use cameras to recognise and interact with the environment. Self driving cars and so forth.
I'd be happy with an Apple Mars base though.
But beyond that Elon is also visionary. He doesn't care how things are normally done, he thinks differently, and wants to help the human race evolve. Apple would benefit from having him, but it would also suffer for it I think.
A merger could work brilliantly if done right - but much easier said than done. Elon is a perfectionist and seems to be working far too hard currently. Apple could potentially free him up to focus on the innovation and fine tuning (as well as putting the financial muscle for mass investment in a new thing), much as Tim Cook made things work at Apple while Steve Jobs used his strengths. But it feels like Elon Musk would fit better in an independent creative group than actually integrated into Apple.
So yeah I think it's unlikely. Perhaps the meeting was about Apple and Tesla's desire to use cameras to recognise and interact with the environment. Self driving cars and so forth.
I'd be happy with an Apple Mars base though.