.1. Assuming TSLA exec team knew about this for at least a couple of months, and had some feel for the design of the Bolt via pics shown of Bolt Mules, it gives TSLA a meaningful advantage.
- the Bolt car concept design and many specs have been unveiled. I assume GM Bolt team did not have a reciprocal info or insights into the Model 3, except features from the S.
- The entry price point for the Bolt is now known.
- the range for the Bolt ( may or may not be real world mileage ) is now also known.
- the console and driver infotainment design has also been unveiled....largely.
2. TSLA can and, I expect, will open up reservations ( with a deposit) in late March. GM has not mentioned much about any equivalent to this because it has to be sold by the dealer network. I expect that will give TSLA a 6 months head start for taking reservations, from March until at least Sep.
I suspect GM did this unveiling now, because they did NOT want to come AFTER TSLA, and when market information of Model 3 reservations pile up by end of April/ May, which could also have been demoralizing for the dealer network. In other words, if GM did not go first, and TSLA did in March, and piled up ( say 100 k in reservations ), it would have been a marketing disadvantage for GM.
3. TSLA's strategic advantage will be the upscale TSLA brand ( vs. saying " I drive a Chevy " ...and just look at the BOLT's wheels and tires , for something close to $40 k) , and their captive Gigafactory and battery cell design for optimization via OTA updates....which GM will have to the assign to the dealer service centers. Customers will have to make appointments and it will cost the BOLT customers TIME !
4. TSLA now knows that GM plans to have the BOLT in showrooms by the end of the year, so TSLA will need to ensure ramp up of production ( including Gigafactory ) faster than planned. This hopefully will inform and guide TSLA model 3 design choices, and I hope keep them from taking higher levels of production complexity risk.
5. Elon Musk has said that Model 3 will have at least 200 Real World miles....perhaps meaning vs. BOLT about 240 miles, on an apples to apples basis ??? tbd.
6. AND, Branding matters !!!!! A LOT !! I think GM made a mistake launching its mass market small to mid size EV, at a close to $40 K price point ( with just the basic options ), branded as a Chevy! And, it will need to compete against the BMW i 3 in this class , from a branding standpoint.
TSLA now will need to work harder on this range battle and try to go beyond 250 miles, relative to the BOLT, by the time the Model 3 enters production. I am quite optimistic that TSLA will be able to achieve this. AND, very importantly , I hope the Model 3 will come with a more powerful battery option , say for $5 K more, that takes the range close to 300 miles.
Having noted the above points, I still think the Gigafactory ( battery and battery cell performance optimization ), the economies of scale for TSLA battery cost (via the in house Gigafactory), will be TSLA's sustainable advantages through 2021/22.
From a marketing standpoint, TSLA just might unveil a better looking design with the Model 3 - compared to the BOLT , which to me seems to me, on the exterior, to be a cross between tiny Fiat's design and the BMW i3' without the BMW type of exterior finish.
So, I believe this BOLT unveiling - now - is actually a competitive adavantge for TSLA to finalize some last minute design touches, and push for even greater range than expected todate for the Model 3.
Looks and and sexy design matters and I believe Elon is only too aware of that. IF, they can pull that off at the lower price point AND get closer to 250 miles of range ( vs the Bolt ), 1.e. at least 20 PC more AND with 50 PC LESS charging time for the Model 3, vs the 9 hours for the BOLT, the GM dealerships will have a tough time selling the BOLT. Also, let's not forget that the Chevy dealers will be less incentivized, since EV's will produce less service dept revenues for the GM dealers, over the life of the BOLT.
I believe most in the media, simply do not fully appreciate the combined impact of all of the above! Just one guy's opinion though, FWIW.
- the Bolt car concept design and many specs have been unveiled. I assume GM Bolt team did not have a reciprocal info or insights into the Model 3, except features from the S.
- The entry price point for the Bolt is now known.
- the range for the Bolt ( may or may not be real world mileage ) is now also known.
- the console and driver infotainment design has also been unveiled....largely.
2. TSLA can and, I expect, will open up reservations ( with a deposit) in late March. GM has not mentioned much about any equivalent to this because it has to be sold by the dealer network. I expect that will give TSLA a 6 months head start for taking reservations, from March until at least Sep.
I suspect GM did this unveiling now, because they did NOT want to come AFTER TSLA, and when market information of Model 3 reservations pile up by end of April/ May, which could also have been demoralizing for the dealer network. In other words, if GM did not go first, and TSLA did in March, and piled up ( say 100 k in reservations ), it would have been a marketing disadvantage for GM.
3. TSLA's strategic advantage will be the upscale TSLA brand ( vs. saying " I drive a Chevy " ...and just look at the BOLT's wheels and tires , for something close to $40 k) , and their captive Gigafactory and battery cell design for optimization via OTA updates....which GM will have to the assign to the dealer service centers. Customers will have to make appointments and it will cost the BOLT customers TIME !
4. TSLA now knows that GM plans to have the BOLT in showrooms by the end of the year, so TSLA will need to ensure ramp up of production ( including Gigafactory ) faster than planned. This hopefully will inform and guide TSLA model 3 design choices, and I hope keep them from taking higher levels of production complexity risk.
5. Elon Musk has said that Model 3 will have at least 200 Real World miles....perhaps meaning vs. BOLT about 240 miles, on an apples to apples basis ??? tbd.
6. AND, Branding matters !!!!! A LOT !! I think GM made a mistake launching its mass market small to mid size EV, at a close to $40 K price point ( with just the basic options ), branded as a Chevy! And, it will need to compete against the BMW i 3 in this class , from a branding standpoint.
TSLA now will need to work harder on this range battle and try to go beyond 250 miles, relative to the BOLT, by the time the Model 3 enters production. I am quite optimistic that TSLA will be able to achieve this. AND, very importantly , I hope the Model 3 will come with a more powerful battery option , say for $5 K more, that takes the range close to 300 miles.
Having noted the above points, I still think the Gigafactory ( battery and battery cell performance optimization ), the economies of scale for TSLA battery cost (via the in house Gigafactory), will be TSLA's sustainable advantages through 2021/22.
From a marketing standpoint, TSLA just might unveil a better looking design with the Model 3 - compared to the BOLT , which to me seems to me, on the exterior, to be a cross between tiny Fiat's design and the BMW i3' without the BMW type of exterior finish.
So, I believe this BOLT unveiling - now - is actually a competitive adavantge for TSLA to finalize some last minute design touches, and push for even greater range than expected todate for the Model 3.
Looks and and sexy design matters and I believe Elon is only too aware of that. IF, they can pull that off at the lower price point AND get closer to 250 miles of range ( vs the Bolt ), 1.e. at least 20 PC more AND with 50 PC LESS charging time for the Model 3, vs the 9 hours for the BOLT, the GM dealerships will have a tough time selling the BOLT. Also, let's not forget that the Chevy dealers will be less incentivized, since EV's will produce less service dept revenues for the GM dealers, over the life of the BOLT.
I believe most in the media, simply do not fully appreciate the combined impact of all of the above! Just one guy's opinion though, FWIW.
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