40kwh Model S canceled

[DrComputer]

If this was true...why doesn't Tesla sell all the CPO 2.x Roadsters as Sports? They'd just need new firmware, and Tesla gets free money. Tesla could even say they upgraded the motor or something.

You'd think they would. But to be a true "sport" they'd also have to install the adjustable suspension and upgrade the wheels. Not sure they think the aftermarket would care about those options. I've always said they should come out with a reasonably priced "sport software upgrade" for say $1-2K. Simple revenue for them and a performance upgrade for Roadster 2.x non-sport cars.

 

[mattjs33]

Been away for a while, so I haven't been reading any car news for about a week. So to see this development, my only response could be:

Hahahahahaha!

I knew the idea of a $57,000 Model S would be nothing but pure fantasy.

Do I get a cookie now?

 

[dave]

I suspected from the beginning that there wasn't a hardware difference between supercharger capable and non-supercharger capable cars. It was just an opportunity to make additional revenue on the supercharger access.

I similarly suspect there are very minimal if any hardware changes between the 85 and P85.

 

[qwk]

Been away for a while, so I haven't been reading any car news for about a week. So to see this development, my only response could be:

Hahahahahaha!

I knew the idea of a $57,000 Model S would be nothing but pure fantasy.

Do I get a cookie now?

It would have only been a fantasy if no one was allowed to buy one at that price. Your statement is simply not true. That price has been around for 4 years. Have you ever heard of inflation?

 

[vfx]

I noted 4% on this page Model S tally is correct. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ak-wxCTyuHb8dFdOT1Qyc0o0V1NNdUR3NEN3Sk1IR0E#gid=0

 

[shokunin]

As 40KW reservation holder, I'm obviously pleased. However, I'm not surprised they did not extend or offer a deadline. They had a known number of 40's and made a business/market/financial decision based on that. If they said you have two days to configure or order your car, there would have been a huge inrush of 40's, probably even people who would have ordered a 60 would order a 40 just to upgrade at a later time. Since the margins are probably so thin on the 40's they needed to lock in those numbers, take the hit, and move forward.

I'm waaay surprised at Tesla, shocked, actually that they are essentially putting a 60kw pack and 60kw performance into the 40kw cars. Now it won't be so bad if we need to switch S's. I was not looking forward to the 40KW 0-60 times (most of our streets have 50 or 55mph speed limits).

 

[vfx]

As 40KW reservation holder, I'm obviously pleased. However, I'm not surprised they did not extend or offer a deadline.....

Looks like they did. Jeni was told by two twice that she had to do it yesterday. She mentioned a 7:00 cutoff.

 

[Doug_G]

We've seen this before with the Roadster 2.0 versus the Roadster Sport 2.0. At first Tesla claimed there was a special "hand wound" motor that increased speed but that was later stricken from any marketing materials and all of the techs "in the know" said it was nothing more than a firmware difference between the two cars.

I don't know about motor windings, but Joost told me that the cables from the battery pack are larger in the Roadster Sport. So there are hardware differences.

 

[vfx]

So Elon talks today about on Bloomberg how the range on the 40kWh car is a terrible thing and that's why they canceled it and then goes and sells a car with that range anyway?

 

[Krugerrand]

So Elon talks today about on Bloomberg how the range on the 40kWh car is a terrible thing and that's why they canceled it and then goes and sells a car that range anyway?

People have ordered it and been waiting months and perhaps year. What would you have him do? Tell that 4% they now have to spend the extra 10k or no car at all?

 

[arondaniel]

So Elon talks today about on Bloomberg how the range on the 40kWh car is a terrible thing and that's why they canceled it and then goes and sells a car that range anyway?

It's a "hobbled horse" lol. I'm sure I'll pay to unlock the hidden bonus levels someday. I believe in Tesla so they'll get my money... Eventually...

 

[vfx]

So then here's the 10,000 dollar question.

Without an EPA rating for the 40 kWh battery Model S, what will Tesla decide to hobble the 60 kWh 208 mile range to?

 

[Chas F]

So then here's the 10,000 dollar question.

Without an EPA rating for the 40 kWh battery Model S, what will Tesla decide to hobble the 60 kWh 208 mile range to?

As far as 40kWh will take you.

 

[JRP3]

People have ordered it and been waiting months and perhaps year. What would you have him do? Tell that 4% they now have to spend the extra 10k or no car at all?

I think the point was that Elon made a rather ridiculous claim about the 40. Basically he's saying Tesla developed a terrible product, which is a dumb thing to say, and not true anyway. The truth is that probably many people would have loved the 40 performance and range, but it would have had to have been at a lower price point. The 40 was obviously in a no mans land, not enough range for the people who could afford it and too expensive for those, say LEAF owners, who would have been more than happy with the range and performance.

 

[ElSupreme]

I think the point was that Elon made a rather ridiculous claim about the 40. Basically he's saying Tesla developed a terrible product, which is a dumb thing to say, and not true anyway.

Well remember they didn't develop a 40kWh car. I think Tesla was getting less and less hopeful about the 40kWh car, and with such poor sales they saw an out and took it.

I think the 40kWh was only to hit the magic number of $50k anyway. I never thought Tesla actually wanted to produce that car, but rather felt they needed to. The $50k price point really dragged me in. Then I got dragged up. I don't know if I would have reserved as early as I did without the 40kWh car. I probably would have gotten around to buying one, but it would have been later on.

 

[NeedToDrive]

They didn't develop the 40 kWh product, and that's the point. They are simply making he financial decision to not spend the development money to get the 40 kWh to market and provide a hobbled 60 kWh instead.

 

[JRP3]

So then Tesla designed a "bad" product that they never intended to produce. Either way, don't slag your own product. Instead of carrying on about how it was a crippled product simply say demand just wasn't there, and move on. He just didn't come off well taking the tack that he did, at least to me, it was the wrong spin to put on it.

 

[ElSupreme]

So then Tesla designed a "bad" product that they never intended to produce.

They didn't 'design' it. That is the point. They marketed it. Because they thought they needed it. But it turns out they didn't need it. So they decided not to design it, save some $$$ and use that to use a more expensive hardware piece to fill the orders.

 

[NeedToDrive]

Well remember they didn't develop a 40kWh car.

ditto for me

We should remember that the 40 still has very good range and would cover the vast majority of daily usage. I'd be willing to bet we haven't seen the last of a product in the 40 kWh range. I believe the GenIII is going to have one as an option.

 

[JRP3]

They didn't 'design' it. That is the point. They marketed it. Because they thought they needed it. But it turns out they didn't need it. So they decided not to design it, save some $$$ and use that to use a more expensive hardware piece to fill the orders.

Right, that's the truth, not that it was a "bad" car or a "hobbled" car. Right move, wrong spin.