Tesla CEO Elon Musk Takes Shots at Apple During Earnings Call

[sevoneone]

The dude’s company makes electric cars, not time machines. Others are doing it too and NASA has done a lot more in space than Musk. I get it, bringing costs down and opening space to civilians…but it hasn’t happened yet.

Uh, no one has been able to touch SpaceX in terms of cost and it keeps getting lower the more reliable and trustworthy refurbished boosters become. $62m (that's for a new rocket) vs. $165m+ for the nearest competitor. Launches on a 'flight-proven' booster has been said to be as low as around $30m. That is an 80% cost reduction in the access to space. That's not everyday people vacationing in Low Earth Orbit cheap, but that's a lot of opportunities for businesses. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/elo...et-over-a-million-dollars-less-to-insure.html

Let's also not forget, the USA would not have manned launch capabilities right now if it wasn't for SpaceX.

 

[Robin Bonathan]

Elon, how about letting tesla car owners buy parts for their cars so they can repair them.

 

[Mac4Mat]

Please.

Apple took the idea for the mouse from Xerox, who had taken the idea from research papers written by a computer scientist at Stanford in the 60's that outlined the concept of a pointing device and cursor. Apple applied the exact same "vision" you're accusing Musk of not having: They took stacks of existing concepts and research on the GUI and rapidly developed it into a product that could be used by ordinary people. Same fundamental concepts that had been around for a couple of decades, just figuring out how apply it. Starting with a niche set of rich people that could afford it, and eventually making it accessible to almost anyone.

Tesla took concepts and research that had been sitting stale on a shelf since Detroit decided to recall and destroy the shockingly good EVs of the Mid-90's and set to work to develop it into something obtainable to the mainstream.

SpaceX took reusable booster concepts, research and engineers that had been laughed out of the likes of Boeing, Lockheed and Rockwell and made it reality.

Apple, Tesla, SpaceX. When you actually think about it, how much does any company actually 'innovate' new ideas versus develop and apply old ones in new ways? Apple didn't invent the mouse. Apple didn't invent the smart phone. Apple didn't invent the MP3 player. Apple didn't invent the smart watch. Tesla didn't invent the Electric Car. SpaceX did actually invent the reusable orbital booster, but it stands on the shoulders of who/what came before. Each one of these applications of technology set their respective industry and categories on its end. You could say each one thought differently and moved the human race forward. I think there's a poem about it or something.

Jobs and Musk are two very different personalities, but they are the same in their ability to stick to a vision they knew would benefit/advance society and both were not afraid to defend their positions with strong words when needed.

They didn't take as in steal from Xerox, Steve Jobs made a deal with Xerox, who obviously didn't think the idea merited them keeping it.

Tesla did not take concepts that were sitting on the shelf, many of these concepts were working production items designed in some cases centuries before.

You really are trying to rewrite history in favour of Tesla, when history shows a decidedly different version to what you claim.

Take a look at this patent and ask how the hell this was granted, as its nothing more than what Apple had been doing for years:

• Method of selecting an application target window in a user interface​

  Tesla Patent number: 11068064
  Abstract: A method for controlling application windows is provided for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) display which is divided into at least first and second application windows. Various software applications may be launched in the first and second application windows. In order to switch locations of the software applications launched in the first and second application windows the user selects a swap window button, for example by tapping or clicking on a swap window icon on the GUI display.
  Type: Grant
  Filed: June 12, 2017
  Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
  Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
  Inventors: Brennan Boblett, Evan Small, Roy Goldman, Michael Fairman

So if Tesla and Elon boast about it all being public domain and open to all....WHY ARE THEY STILL APPLYING FOR PATENTS!

 

[polyphenol]

No industry standard was available yet, USB-C was a year or two away for Apple.

Two years to USB-C - and a further two years before IEC adoption.

I've always hated micro-USB - even though it is proprietary, I preferred Lightning.

 

[Mac4Mat]

no one is gonna take tesla's lunch money, all these legacy auto who supposedly come out with their own ev and diminish tesla market share predicted by analysts years ago, have either fell short of their goal and haven't start production yet, or have started and realized its a much bigger task than originally expected. as tesla continue to simplify its manufacturing process, I.E giga press, the gap between tesla and legacy auto is only gonna widen.

have you any idea of what percentage of the auto market Tesla holds? Let alone how much revenue is generated by bitcoin/crypto trading and subsidies/grants plus punitive payments on the big auto companies which for some reason finds its way to Tesla's coffers.

 

[Mac4Mat]

Uh, no one has been able to touch SpaceX in terms of cost and it keeps getting lower the more reliable and trustworthy refurbished boosters become. $62m (that's for a new rocket) vs. $165m+ for the nearest competitor. Launches on a 'flight-proven' booster has been said to be as low as around $30m. That is an 80% cost reduction in the access to space. That's not everyday people vacationing in Low Earth Orbit cheap, but that's a lot of opportunities for businesses. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/elo...et-over-a-million-dollars-less-to-insure.html

Let's also not forget, the USA would not have manned launch capabilities right now if it wasn't for SpaceX.

Let's not forget how Elon was able to do this...VIA USA GRANTS/SUBSIDIES, as ever. He has likely received more grants/subsidies than any other person on the planet.

Nasa could have come up with renewable systems, but the funding was cut. It was cut 20% in 2013 by Obama and 'restructured' as they obviously didn't think space was important, which was so wrong, as we are finding out now.

Years ago it was he who ruled the waves ruled the world, that changed to he who rules the air ruled the world, and now it is he who rules space rules the world.

This is because ultimately even hypersonic weapons have to be launched, and anti missile systems based on earth are not fast enough once they detect a missile. Whereas from space hypersonic or ICBM's can be noticed the second they are launched, whether from ground, air or sea, and control systems and threats can be eliminated.

Elon Musk's growing empire is fueled by $4.9 billion in government subsidies

Los Angeles entrepreneur Elon Musk has built a multibillion-dollar fortune running companies that make electric cars, sell solar panels and launch rockets into space.

www.latimes.com

 

[ilikewhey]

have you any idea of what percentage of the auto market Tesla holds? Let alone how much revenue is generated by bitcoin/crypto trading and subsidies/grants plus punitive payments on the big auto companies which for some reason finds its way to Tesla's coffers.

overall globally EV holds very little % of the total auto market shares, but tesla holds a big chunk of the small ev market, as more and more legacy auto announce going fully electric by 2030 or 2035, mercedes being the latest one, the transition will gradually expand EV's dominance.

as a very loose correlation, one can look at tesla's future options call. the premium riding on tesla for the next couple of months is astronomically high.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Rofl. Competitors? Like Apple? That's rich

LOL, Apple. Naw, I mean BMW, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, etc.

They’ll get EV handled before Apple comes in to perfect the EV, like they have done with everything

 

[polyphenol]

From where I am, it is easier and quicker for me to get to a hydrogen charger than a Tesla destination charger. Though both are about eight miles. (Don't even consider a supercharger - about eighty miles to one of them.) And charging would be quicker!

Just need a hydrogen-powered vehicle...

 

[Sigma4Life]

From where I am, it is easier and quicker for me to get to a hydrogen charger than a Tesla destination charger. Though both are about eight miles. (Don't even consider a supercharger - about eighty miles to one of them.) And charging would be quicker!

Just need a hydrogen-powered vehicle...

Uh are you homeless? The closest charger for me is in my garage. Most EV owners charge at their home or apartment complex 99% of the time.

 

[MVMNT]

It's a plug.

Carplay on a Tesla though? Nah, you're OK when it suits apparently.

 

[orthorim]

Truth is, Elon Musk is the new Steve Jobs, and Apple is on its way down, not in terms of income, but in terms of innovation.

Tim Cook is the master of income - master of revenues - master of making a ******** of money while squeezing suppliers, getting the best quality at the lowest prices, and destroying the competition with execution. He's the genius at execusion, and Jobs selected him to run the show in part because he's bringing the money, and without money, no company.

Jony Ive left and now all product innovation at Apple has left the building.

New iMac design looks like it was designed by Microsoft. (my son, 11, said that, and he used to be the biggest Apple fan, he had a wallpaper of the 11 pro on his iPhone 8 until he got it....)

Tesla is innovating all over the place, no other car maker can even remotely compete.

And if you've seen the inside, the software, Tesla is the new apple. Tesla software is superb. The UX is amazing. It looks amazing, it performs amazing, and if Tesla ever starts making phones, Apple is in trouble.

Why - well that's because Apple used to be run by a genius until Jobs left us.

And Tesla is right now run by a genius. It makes all the difference, and it's the reason I invested 10 years ago, and bought TSLA.

Income - Microsoft is still making an absolute killing, and doing it with zero innovation, so Apple is likely good and safe for a long time to come, having this cash cow creating them billions.

Innovation - isn't happening at Apple. They're still pretty good at making incremental improvements, that's Jobs heritage also, almost like a Japanese company - keep making it better every year. But for big changes - just look at the iMac. Ugh. Yeah they still have the M1 and Mx ... to ride on, that was also initiated under Jobs, who decided to buy a chip company for 100M dollars when everyone thought that was crazy. Made Apple billions and made them the leaders in phone processing power, and also now computer processing power, Intel doesn't stand a chance. It's gonna get run off the road. (loving my old-design M1 MacBook Air, by far the best Apple laptop I ever had)

And the Apple store - it was a good idea in 2007 / 2008, but nowadays, Apple's tight control of the app store in reality means that ALL governments control the app store, which is a ****** situation to be in. Apple can't say no to any reasonably size government - they have to comply, or go bankrupt. So really, now China, Russia, USA (which isn't any better than the aforementioned...) are all in control of the Apple App store. Congratulations, that was a massive own goal. They need to let go of the control.

 

[polyphenol]

Uh are you homeless? The closest charger for me is in my garage. Most EV owners charge at their home or apartment complex 99% of the time.

Personally, I would have no difficulty in charging at home. But a large proportion of the properties where I live cannot charge at home. Many would have to drape the charging cable across a pavement or even a road as they have no accessible gardens or drives or garages. Many live in small apartment blocks without any electricity readily available in the car parking areas. It is the nature of the town.

And people do sometimes need a faster charge.

I just found it ironic that, should I want a fast charge, hydrogen is more accessible than Tesla chargers.(There are also a handful of non-Tesla chargers but not many, not enough to be able to rely on access.)

 

[gnipgnop]

Nasa could have come up with renewable systems, but the funding was cut. It was cut 20% in 2013 by Obama and 'restructured' as they obviously didn't think space was important, which was so wrong, as we are finding out now.

2013 was the year of the budget sequester. Paul Ryan, one of the leading GOP representatives at the time, was the person responsible for allowing the sequester to take effect, not Obama. The sequester itself was supposedly a budget outcome so terrible that it would force a bipartisan solution to the budget. Instead, it turned out to be what the GOP preferred.

 

[ds2000]

Telsa do indeed offer patents to competitors and as far as I know, nobody has used them. The information the traditional manufacturers would have to give up would be crippling.

Why can't we buy our own bits to repair our Teslas Elon? Why do we always have to go to a service centre?

 

[diamond.g]

Elon, how about letting tesla car owners buy parts for their cars so they can repair them.

As long as the part isn't HV they do.

 

[tridley68]

Musk Hmmm something doesn't smell right.

 

[Kabeyun]

Don't award him the accomplishment of a "visionary" when nothing he's produced so far at either of his companies is visionary in the slightest. Fundamentally speaking Tesla has not done anything to shift the technological paradigm as EVs are an old technology and concept (as are re-usable rockets, the engineering concept was drawn up by an academic 60 years ago and prototypes were built 30 years ago), not to mention it's just a different form of powering the same four wheeled type vehicles we've all been using for 100+ years. When we switched to a Tesla our transportation experience was fundamentally unchanged except now we had to worry about range anxiety.

On the other hand Jobs was one of the people at the forefront of ubiquitous mainstream consumer electronics. Apple is one of the vessels responsible for introducing the average person to the digital and connected realm. Smartphones have been a complete undeniable paradigm shift that has permanently changed the way society works (for better or for worse) in so many dimensions.

I disagree with you. I wouldn’t suggest Musk wasn’t an EV visionary just because some sort of battery car had been made before. Before him EVs were impractical, range-hobbled, usually silly-looking, and niche. He saw the real possibility of dislodging 100 years of ICE dominance, made the Roadster, and changed everything. By your own argument Jobs wasn’t a visionary because microcomputers already existed (heck, Apple’s wasn’t even the first successful PC). And everything in the first iPhone existed before. It takes a novel mind to envision the possibilities of evolving or combining existing technology in a better or novel way, and catalyze mass interest. Musk did that with EVs and Jobs did that with personal electronics. I wouldn’t undefine Musk as visionary in this respect just because EV aren’t (yet) as ubiquitous as smartphones. There are a lot of differences between those two industries affecting the adoption curve.

 

[NPC Compliant]

Wall garden you say? So is he saying that Tesla will let me plug my Chevy Bolt in at a Tesla Supercharger?

False equivalence, but yes, they will

 

[NPC Compliant]

Listening to Musk is mostly a waste of time..

If he's not pumping up dog and bit coins, he's usually promising things he can't deliver.

Such ignorance, stated with such certainty. You’re funny

 

[Glideslope]

This is Elon being Elon. Apple will never be an EV competitor to Tesla. He was just having an Aspergers Moment over his companies earnings and decided to hop on the Apple Bash Bandwagon. Comparing a Model S to an iPhone. Ok, Elon. Time to come down from orbit.

The hypocrisy of his Walled Garden Montra is amusing. Next to Apple there is no other company that controls the integration in it's products between the Software and the Hardware as Tesla. He may be a genius, but a Stable Genius has yet to be determined.

 

[NPC Compliant]

So it’s OK for Musk to be a jerk because Tim Cook didn’t take a meeting with him once?

Do you understand the concept of respect? Secondly, how is he being a jerk by highlighting the irony of said disrespect?

 

[IllinoisCorn]

Just release FSD Beta 9 to more testers, including me.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

So it’s OK for Musk to be a jerk because Tim Cook didn’t take a meeting with him once?

I don't think he's being a jerk. He's throwing elbows at a competitor.

 

[mansplains]

I own APPL and TSLA and own way too many Apple products and had two Teslas at one point, but now just have the Model Y Performance due to lack of driving. However I no problem criticizing both. While Musk has been open (recently) to opening the Supercharger network, Tesla's right to repair policies have been far worse than even Apple's which I think is a much bigger issue.

Tesla repair seems horrendous. I was looking to buy a Model 3 before covid but glad I didn't since I realistically couldn't afford it after the fact. Have you had any bad experiences personally? Next article is Tim Cook muttering Tesla under his breath over some repair issue!