| Tesla Motors Discussion about Tesla Motors |
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01-30-2009, 01:29 PM
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#81 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 634 | Quote:
Originally Posted by thejump  The proximity between an auto company's design studio and their assembly plant is a non-issue with today's internet and communications technologies. | I think what SByer forgot to mention was that along with the proximity with the design studio, is more importantly proximity to core customers (of which most are in the west, esp CA) and also with Pacific shipping ports (for the battery cells (in the future if Tesla is making a battery pack in their own factory), motors (from Taiwan right now), which are mostly made and shipped from Asia). So having the facility in the West definitely has some logistical advantages (saves time and shipping costs).
Edit: Battery packs being made in San Carlos now, so again in the West, though you can move the facility but you lose the advantage of close proximity to shipping ports for the battery cell.
However, you are right that most of the reasoning is to tap into the high tech/cutting edge image of Silicon Valley.
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Last edited by stopcrazypp; 01-30-2009 at 01:34 PM..
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01-30-2009, 01:41 PM
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#82 | | '08 #383
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 364 | I didn't say "poor", which implies a serious reliability issue, but "not very good at it", which wraps in the things that the auto makers don't yet have under control - cost, functionality.
I'm also not fond of when JD Powers uses "quality" as a synonym for "reliability", which is what they're really measuring. Reliability is only one aspect of quality. Yes, Ford now builds some of the more reliable cars on the road. But they're doing it at a higher cost than what it really should be. And, except for some very recent models, with lower functionality and performance than comparable autos from elsewhere around the world.
So, while Ford has been the one less-dim spot of the big three, I would still assert when taken as a whole, over the past 10 years, the track record of car manufacturing in America is not very good.
Last edited by SByer; 01-30-2009 at 01:44 PM..
Reason: wrong word in first sentence
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01-30-2009, 06:12 PM
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#83 | | ERIC VFX
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: CA Posts: 4,646 | One cannot underestimate the image Tesla want to portray with their brand. Being and being made in SV is part of their Unique Selling Proposition.
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01-31-2009, 06:19 AM
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#85 | | Head Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stanford, California Posts: 3,606 | Quote:
Originally Posted by dpeilow | So they already have another location in mind? Quote:
"We cannot do anything that may jeopardize securing the federal loan," said Tesla senior communications manager Rachel Konrad.
"That's one of the reasons we are now planning to develop on a brownfield site instead of the greenfield site in San Jose."
Tesla is in "late-stage" negotiations with another site for its Model S sedan plant and expects to begin production in 2011 as originally planned, according to Konrad.
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02-02-2009, 03:07 PM
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#86 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 2,966 | | |
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02-03-2009, 12:37 PM
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#87 | | Head Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stanford, California Posts: 3,606 | Tesla in 'late-stage' talks on new factory site - San Francisco Business Times: Quote: Tesla Motors Inc. said on Tuesday that it is in "late-stage" negotiations for an undisclosed site to build its Model S sedan.
A statement from the San Carlos company didn't disclose the new site but said an announcement would come soon.
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A spokeswoman said Tesla has been approached by numerous commercial real estate developers with potential sites since last week.
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02-03-2009, 12:45 PM
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#88 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 2,966 | Good. I hope something workable is coming together and all those stories that made 2+2=5 last week are proved wrong. | |
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02-03-2009, 01:46 PM
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#89 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aptos, California Posts: 1,551 | Yes, and I hope the site is still in California so that they can take advantage of both the federal dollars as well as the State of California dollars too.
(Assuming, of course, that California fixes the budget enough to be able to start paying these things...) | |
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02-03-2009, 02:21 PM
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#90 | | 2010 Roadster Sport #690
Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 111 | It does make sense to repurpose a factory in this economy where there will be loads of empty ones. | |
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