Interesting interview with Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche clearly reveals the attitudes and plans for the business future. DZ makes some remarks on Tesla and its role in shaping that future.
DZ considers Tesla technology to be the technology of the future, however, the disadvantages of a higher price and range anxiety will considerably delay the technology becoming mainstream.
DZ also sees ice surviving for a long long time and eventually becoming extinct. His view of the future includes the prevalence of hybrids with relevant number of bevs after some time.
DZ seems to have a lot of respect for Tesla
DZ also stated that Mercedes is certain not to build Tesla fighter. DZ goal for Mercedes is to be number one. Perhaps competing with Tesla would distract from this goal, imho.
Imo, DZ correctly identified fun factor as quite relevant for getting customers attracted to Tesla, but I find his statement 'disadvantages of electric motor' very short sighted or lacking insight, or perhaps it is simply poorly phrased on his behalf. Replacing a cumbersome complex inelegant inefficient ice with a electric motor is at the heart of the technological advantage of Tesla cars.
DZ considers Tesla technology to be the technology of the future, however, the disadvantages of a higher price and range anxiety will considerably delay the technology becoming mainstream.
DZ also sees ice surviving for a long long time and eventually becoming extinct. His view of the future includes the prevalence of hybrids with relevant number of bevs after some time.
DZ seems to have a lot of respect for Tesla
First, I have great respect for the work Elon Musk has done so far. Whether he will succeed with his future plans remains to be seen. At least he has managed to offset the aforementioned disadvantages of the electric motor with other fun factors, and he has been more successful at it than his competitors. The big question is whether this success is scalable and whether it can be transmitted to other segments. And I don’t have an answer to that.
DZ also stated that Mercedes is certain not to build Tesla fighter. DZ goal for Mercedes is to be number one. Perhaps competing with Tesla would distract from this goal, imho.
Imo, DZ correctly identified fun factor as quite relevant for getting customers attracted to Tesla, but I find his statement 'disadvantages of electric motor' very short sighted or lacking insight, or perhaps it is simply poorly phrased on his behalf. Replacing a cumbersome complex inelegant inefficient ice with a electric motor is at the heart of the technological advantage of Tesla cars.