this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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353
Tesla’s in its flop era (www.theverge.com)
submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
106 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

When Tesla releases its first quarter earnings this afternoon, the company’s CEO Elon Musk will field the usual questions about new products, new factories, and progress toward its futuristic vision of self-driving cars and robot workers. But Musk will also face increasingly urgent questions about its current state of affairs — and why everything seems to be going to shit. 

Earlier this month, the company reported its first year-over-year sales drop in four years, a sign of rougher waters ahead. Tesla’s stock has fallen more than 40 percent since the start of the year, including a 13 percent drop in the last week. The company laid off over 14,000 employees last week, 10 percent of its global workforce — which could end up being closer to 20 percent when all’s said and done, according to Bloomberg. Today’s earnings report is expected to include Tesla’s lowest profit margins in six years, a sign that rampant price-cutting continues to exact a toll.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

This probably is true for some people, which is why I hope he steps down.

Me, I'm waiting for the prices to come down (more than the recent price cuts) on the Model 3, or for a more affordable AWD EV with similar range to become available.

I order online from Amazon and Walmart too, it doesn't mean I agree with their CEOs, board, or business practices. The shit those companies get away with is arguably worse than Musk's right wing BS on X, with union busting and employees depending on benefits to survive.

If you're able to make a statement and buy something else, great! I support that. My requirements for a vehicle are: full EV, AWD, 300+ mile range, final cost under 40k. The access to supercharging also seems nearly essential, but I'm willing to explore my options if they meet the other requirements. I also never want to buy from a scumbag car dealer again. That really doesn't leave me any other options that I'm aware of.

If not, I guess I could stick it to Elon and just buy another ICE vehicle...

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't set one foot in those cars.

The employee training the company offers is “woefully inadequate,” Reveal reported in its investigation. Turley told me she was never taught how to do her job and only shown videos that included a history of the plant and information about Tesla, but nothing about the work she would be doing. “You pretty much have to learn from the people that’s in there,” she said. Cleon Waters also said in his filing that he was never given any training for his job assembling parts of car motors. California safety regulators cited Tesla eight times for deficient training between 2013 and 2018.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/tesla-racism-sexual-harassment/

(Warning: this whole article is awful and infuriating.)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Cars and car companies suck. If I could lug all my sports shit around in an e-bike I would.

I imagine the conditions aren't great at all these "American" car plants which are conveniently located in Mexico for maximum abuse of labor.

I'm not saying you're wrong, there just needs to be alternatives in order for consumers to vote with their wallet on these issues.

For something like a car which is not optional for me, it's either an ICE from a scummy car dealer with a scummy company behind them that uses questionable labor practices, or an EV from a scummy car dealer with a scummy company behind them that uses questionable labor practices, or an EV from a company with a scummy CEO that uses questionable labor practices. At least with a Tesla you can cut out some of the scumbags? I'd be interested in Rivian too if I could afford one but they start at 70k.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm sorry, the response to 'these people are making cars without being trained' should not be 'cars and car companies suck' because that would not be the case in any other car company.

Teslas are rolling deathtraps.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You seem to be missing the point. Show me a car company that's not screwing over the consumers and the workforce, and I'll buy from them. Not every consumer has the luxury of maximizing altruism with their car purchase. At least those supposedly untrained employees are US citizens getting paid a US wage. Do you honestly think that things are better at the Mexican plants?

Maybe Honda and Toyota or Subaru? But they've been too busy sucking off the oil industry with their hydrogen push, and now their EV offerings can't compete.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Tells someone they are missing the point while missing the point themselves.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Replies to a thread with lots of well-thought out comments with some BS and doesn't even elaborate.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I think you make a valid point that it’s extremely difficult to avoid buying from companies or CEOs you disagree with on political or moral grounds.

However, in the case of Tesla, I’ve lost faith in the product. If I bought a Tesla, I don’t know if I will discover that corners were cut, that features will be removed over the air, or that the company has suddenly crashed and burned.

So, the erratic, narcissistic CEO is the reason I won’t buy a Tesla anymore, but it’s not a sacrifice because I consider it to be the pragmatic choice as well.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Chevy Bolt is full EV, and only $12,000 after some rebates that may only apply in California. It doesn't have 300 mile range, only 250-280. I haven't actually checked, but I think it has a motor on each wheel, so that would be 4WD. Unfortunately, they have decided to discontinue the Bolt after this year.

Edit: I just checked and, nope it's a FWD.

As far as the dealer is concerned, you can go to the manufacturer and buy directly. They cannot advertise to you that this is an option, in the US.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It was also UAW made. Which is one of the most important things for me when it comes to buying a new vehicle

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

This is a good point, I'm more inclined to support a unionized company. Still... my understanding is that GM and Ford (and others) all circumvent unionization by manufacturing (to some extent) in Mexico. I guess it depends on the individual car. I'm supportive of Federal and State EV incentives that prioritize made in the US, unionized manufacturing.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Very true. The unfortunate reality is no vehicle manufacturer is friendly to the UAW (to my knowledge, though Volkswagen claims to be apathetic, but when I was a union member of a company they own it certainly felt like they had a problem with us). I don’t support these companies because they’re good companies I support them because I want the industry to face financial pressure towards unionized labor. And my alternative isn’t nonunion vehicles, it’s used vehicles.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yeah, this is my dilemma. I have heard positive things about Ford and GM in regards to them making it easier to skip the dealership, so that at least addresses the convenience factor. Another factor in wanting to avoid the dealership is that I don't trust their business model where they sell you a car that they want you to bring in regularly for maintenance. I'd rather buy from a company that doesn't see vehicle service as a revenue opportunity. Does that apply to Tesla? I'm not sure, but I know that's how the traditional dealership model works so it's hard to trust those companies.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I really like my Bolt, it perfectly suits my needs and I love driving it. I think the biggest compromise that makes it unattractive for long distance travel is the relatively slow charging speed. I very rarely do that, however, and if I did I might rent a different vehicle.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago

It's really not that difficult to not buy from Walmart and Amazon. I'm not saying any retailer is ideologically pure and chill across the board but mom and pop shops sell 95% of what they do and the money stays in your community