There seems to be two topics running in this thread, one on tariffs on steel and aluminum and one on model S refresh. I can see some interior upgrades happening during the year but I doubt if any exterior changes will happen this year. It costs a lot more money to change the exterior with changes in tooling and production whereas the interior changes can be made relatively less expensively and would accomplish the end goal of selling more cars.
As to the tariffs, it is clear that many on here don't understand the need for tariffs. When there is an imbalance of trade you are creating debt for all of us to pay. Additionally, you hurt companies like Tesla because our autos are highly taxed going into their countries but the converse isn't true. The only way our auto manufacturer can sell a car competitively in many of these countries is by building them in that country. Guess what that does the manufacturer in our own country and the jobs they create? You probably guessed it, it takes away those jobs that would have been here and helped the company grow here. I think Trumps solution is the right one on tariffs. We are for free, open and FAIR trade. This means we will treat you the way you treat us. If you don't tariff our products we won't tariff yours. If you tariff our products at 20%, we will tariff yours at 20%. Some countries tariff our goods at 100% and we allow their goods to come in tariff free. We are giving them our jobs, our money, our future manufacturing capability just so we can pay a little less for these goods. Not smart or good long range thinking. I know the arguments that they are subsidizing their manufacturing and selling it to us below cost so it will hurt them. The problem with that mode of thinking is that your companies can't compete so they leave to become more competitive. You lose the jobs and capability and before long you are dependent on the other country to manufacture goods for you and you now have to pay whatever price they want because you can't produce it yourself. The capital and intellectual plus knowledge start up costs are so high you are out of the market.
As to the tariffs, it is clear that many on here don't understand the need for tariffs. When there is an imbalance of trade you are creating debt for all of us to pay. Additionally, you hurt companies like Tesla because our autos are highly taxed going into their countries but the converse isn't true. The only way our auto manufacturer can sell a car competitively in many of these countries is by building them in that country. Guess what that does the manufacturer in our own country and the jobs they create? You probably guessed it, it takes away those jobs that would have been here and helped the company grow here. I think Trumps solution is the right one on tariffs. We are for free, open and FAIR trade. This means we will treat you the way you treat us. If you don't tariff our products we won't tariff yours. If you tariff our products at 20%, we will tariff yours at 20%. Some countries tariff our goods at 100% and we allow their goods to come in tariff free. We are giving them our jobs, our money, our future manufacturing capability just so we can pay a little less for these goods. Not smart or good long range thinking. I know the arguments that they are subsidizing their manufacturing and selling it to us below cost so it will hurt them. The problem with that mode of thinking is that your companies can't compete so they leave to become more competitive. You lose the jobs and capability and before long you are dependent on the other country to manufacture goods for you and you now have to pay whatever price they want because you can't produce it yourself. The capital and intellectual plus knowledge start up costs are so high you are out of the market.
