Understanding Tesla's Current Stock Valuation

[JeffKeryk]

Everybody stole this design. Of course Mr Benz probably didn't invent the wheels, seat, engine, etc. So there's that. All good.

 

[Torrid]

So personal attack is all ya got huh?

You're so dismissive you'd downplay the cure for cancer. Spare me.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Everybody stole this design. Of course Mr Benz probably didn't invent the wheels, seat, engine, etc. So there's that. All good.
View attachment 291855

My point was CT was clean sheet with lots of new tech. It was likely the biggest attempt to jump forward the company has ever taken.

It didn’t sell but those ideas may propagate elsewhere in the future.

That’s the definition of R&D. You try to get some customer research but since there are no real customers you take your best shot and hope it sells.

That’s why big manufacturing companies don’t do this sort of thing. They take baby steps and then over pay for startups with new ideas when they need to move forward.

 

[Torrid]

They wanted to work with ACPropulsion and mass produce the TZero. Both Martin and Co, and separately, Elon tried at some point. AC said no thanks but we will sell you drive units and tech. Some of the AC guys (Wally Rippel) went to Tesla. Tesla soon changed to the lotus chassis and developed their own tech. Enough changes that AC couldn’t claim copyright. Alan Cocconi at ACPropulsion was the one that was working on using Li-Ion cylindrical cells since he was using them in model airplanes IIRC.

AC Propulsion was in a serious financial situation at the time. They didn't make many cars unfortunately. I don't think they got past the first three prototypes. Eberhard bought a bunch of stock trying to prop the company up because he wanted them to build him a personal car. At first he wasn't trying to develop a car. He just wanted an EV sports car. They never finished his car, at least that's what Eberhard claims. It definitely got a lot of great minds together.