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Originally Posted by ...m...
...exactly my point - i haven't heard any change in production strategy for the model S...
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I'm curious about this too. Even though I've driven the Roadster several times and think it's a fun rich person's "toy" car, I would not leave a deposit on a vehicle they have no idea where it's going to be built. It's very similar to them deciding to build a Roadster and setting the sale price without knowing what the actually cost would be. Then they end up raising the price for customers that already have deposits, some of them with their cars already in production! They've got the cart in front of the horse again. None of the new car manufacturers I've ever worked for, other than Tesla, does this. If you have a deposit on your car on order, and there is a price increase, you are protected because your car is already on order.
Doesn't anybody read their contract? You can see it online when you place your order. Your deposit is not put in escrow. It is used as working capital, so if Tesla fails, your money is gone. Daimler joining in will hopefully help alleviate that, but I haven't seen any updates yet. I know I may be a bit premature, but I'm anxious to find out. I'm curious what contingencies Daimler put on Tesla. Do they have to open a dealer network, or can they remain the only anti-dealership all factory owned stores car manufacturer? Will they finally put in some more executives and management that do have dealer/manufacturer experiences? Or will they leave their Silicon Valley start-up execs in place to continue running things like they have been thus far?
In the meantime I have contacted Fisker about leaving a deposit on the Sunset. For some reason I feel more comfortable buying a hybrid at this time. Maybe because the infrastructure is already there. If the electric part of it fails I can still use gas and find a place to service my vehicle. Either way I've still got my DAI shares so if Tesla does succeed, I won't do so bad myself.
