Tesla Motors and Government Money - Page 5

vfx · 12-08-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpeilow

... latest news

For being the latest news and published today, it's a bit old.

graham · 12-08-2008, 11:01 AM

From the article:

Quote:

While Tesla Roadster concept car is not yet widely available, with a retail price of $109,000, it is hardly surprising. A top speed of 125 miles and a driving range of 244 miles achieving 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster does offer a real sporting pedigree and offers a glimmer of hope that electric cars could get over their major hangover of their limited driving range. Their other issue of their price tag may make it harder to secure investment.

Yes, the Roadster is expensive, but considering they have already sold over 10 times the cars that they have delivered, I don't think the high price tag is the main reason it is not yet widely available. If they cost twice as much, or half as much I am sure there would be the same amount on the road today.

just-an-allusion · 12-08-2008, 02:19 PM

Amazingly, no one bitched and groaned over the price of a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Mclaren, or any number of other high-end "sports" cars when they hit the market, they just accepted them for what they were/are, i.e., high performance, technological marvels.

Albeit, it is a long accepted, commonly established business practice in the auto industry for any emerging, fledgling automaker to etch a name for itself in the annals of automotive history by introducing itself to the World with a sports car, which is exactly what the Tesla is.

As this is the case, I would have to conclude that a majority of the animosity being directed at Tesla over it's sticker price is attributable to the petroleum-based auto industry...haters!

doug · 12-08-2008, 04:52 PM

TheHill.com - Bottom Line

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AUTOMOBILES. K&L Gates is lobbying for Tesla Motors, an electric car maker. The company is seeking a loan from the Energy Department. Scott Aliferis, a former legislative director to Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), is one of four lobbyists working on behalf of Tesla.

doug · 12-08-2008, 06:48 PM

TheHill.com - Party ties are strain on auto bailout

Quote:

Feinstein’s letter also noted that her own state is home to one such start-up company competing for a chunk of the $25 billion in EISA money: Tesla Motors of San Carlos, which has applied for $400 million. Feinstein also takes issue with an amendment Levin has pushed to restrict the loans to manufacturers that have existed for at least 20 years, arguing to Reid that Levin’s amendment would rule out any help for foreign and new companies.

“This is unacceptable to me,” Feinstein wrote.

A Feinstein spokesman said the California senator is still considering her position on this week’s bill and is merely promoting the idea of fuel-efficient technology, regardless of where it is developed or manufactured.

“The point is simple: American automakers — whether based in Michigan or California — should pursue fuel-efficient, next-generation technologies like hybrid and electric,” the spokesman said.

Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla’s vice president for business development, says his Silicon Valley-area company needs the $400 million to manufacture electric batteries as well as a sedan. He takes pains to avoid any criticism of Detroit, but does echo Feinstein’s case that Tesla’s cars represent the next generation.

“We’ve never regarded this as an ‘us versus them’ situation, like ‘us against Detroit,’ ” O’Connell said. “We do think these [EISA] funds were set aside to inspire and incentivize the future.”

TEG · 12-08-2008, 08:17 PM

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...Levin has pushed to restrict the loans to manufacturers that have existed for at least 20 years...

This sounds like a rather direct attempt to cut Tesla out.
Forces at work trying to stop them in their tracks?

vfx · 12-08-2008, 08:37 PM

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...levin has pushed to restrict the loans to manufacturers that have existed for at least 20 years...

what the #%\@*!!

just-an-allusion · 12-08-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

This sounds like a rather direct attempt to cut Tesla out.
Forces at work trying to stop them in their tracks?

More so to redirect the available funds towards the so-called "Big 3" me thinks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfx

what the #%\@*!!

Yep, you read into it right, Levin's out to screw Tesla (and others) over in favor of the Detroit steam roller.

Cobos · 12-09-2008, 01:41 AM

It sounds to me like Tesla got a pretty good chance if they are mentioned by name. After all if the Michigan senator should have any hope of getting this to pass, he needs support from both sides. That means a lot of concessions, and hence the whole bill will fail if he runs this kind of message too hard (i.e. the 20 year rule).
I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to US politics but this what sounds most likely to me?

Cobos

graham · 12-09-2008, 02:17 AM

Not 100% sure which thread this belongs in -- but some good information in here:
Nummi plans 12-day shutdown over two months

Quote:

Save our loan: That could be Tesla Motors' response to Detroit's Big Three looking to snag $15 billion from a federal pot designed for the San Carlos electric car company and other clean-tech outfits like it. "Its something of a travesty that a fund for alternative energy goes to bail out gas guzzlers," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Still, in light of the awful jobs report last week, he said, "I probably would have done something similar," referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who supported a bailout deal she had initially sworn to oppose. "It's regrettable, but if they stay true to their word, to replenish the fund quickly, it should be all right."

For Tesla, "all right" hinges on getting a $400 million loan from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program Tesla applied to last month. The money, administered by the Department of Energy, will help fund Tesla's $60,000 "Model S" sedan.

The prototype of the car will be unveiled in February, with cars on the road expected by 2011, assuming circumstances remain all right. Last week, Musk told me, Tesla closed on $40 million in new private investment. Today, Tesla unmasks its 100th paying customer, name withheld at press time. No, we are assured, it's not another Hollywood celebrity like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney or Matt Damon, all proud owners of the $109,000 Tesla Roadster.

And, no, it's not San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. His was delivered Thanksgiving weekend.

Point of order: Contrary to a New York Times column, which I cited last week, Tesla insists that none of the $400 million, taxpayer-funded loan it's seeking will be going toward any operating expenses connected to its premium-priced sports car or existing power train supply business. It will go, instead, toward its more affordable sedan.

So Model S officially in Feb. And officially 100 deliveries of the Roadster.