Tesla can't raise money, stalls in effort to build factory - LotusTalk

Lotus Fury · 01-30-2009, 05:59 AM

San Jose, Tesla Suffer Huge Setback Over Stalled Plant | NBC Bay Area

Quote:

The San Jose Business Times reported Thursday afternoon that the car company could not get the $100 million in venture capital it needed to build the plant.

sleeprfocus · 01-30-2009, 03:53 PM

Beginning of the end.

kestrel74 · 01-30-2009, 03:58 PM

Their "representative" at the Detroit Auto Show couldn't care about anything but typing away on his blackberry all day long. I walked over a few times and he didn't even look up. I looked over at their exhibit quite a few times and never saw him talking to anyone. Who cares when you don't need the business ??

...m... · 01-30-2009, 04:14 PM

...if tesla focuses on creating actual value for revenue they may stand a reasonable chance of building a substantial legacy, but as long as they continue managing themselves like just another silicon valley VC ponzi scheme, they'll never amount to more than an ephemeral footnote...

Vampyre · 01-30-2009, 04:40 PM

No surprise...

IamBatman · 01-30-2009, 04:57 PM

weird... I had a friend call me regarding a consulting job there last night.

ivan1 · 01-30-2009, 05:22 PM

If someone wants to make some money, start working on a Tesla to Lotus/2zz conversion kit

so when Tesla is no more and noone is interested in maintaining/servicing them the owners can keep their cars from being worthless...

IamBatman · 01-30-2009, 05:25 PM

there's not much maintenance with electric motors. Maybe some kind of cheap battery replacement solution make more sense.

shinoo · 01-30-2009, 05:25 PM

I think building a fresh new plant seems silly when so many old ones are soon to be sold or idled. I hope they can find a space to build their sedan.

ivan1 · 01-30-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamBatman

there's not much maintenance with electric motors. Maybe some kind of cheap battery replacement solution make more sense.

I was kidding..kind of...I would love to see Tesla succeed... I just don't see it happening unfortunately...

rob13572468 · 01-31-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinoo

I think building a fresh new plant seems silly when so many old ones are soon to be sold or idled. I hope they can find a space to build their sedan.

agreed... they should be partnering with one of the big three.. they could use any one of GM's truck plants and convert it to build the model S.

Bavarian Motorist · 01-31-2009, 10:56 PM

The Governator wants them to build a plant in Northern Cal

rob13572468 · 01-31-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivan1

I was kidding..kind of...I would love to see Tesla succeed... I just don't see it happening unfortunately...

Ive always thought that the *idea* behind tesla was actually a really good one... too bad it has been poorly executed and mismanaged to the point of incompetance...

ishmael · 01-31-2009, 11:11 PM

Really wanted to see them succeed. Hate to speak in the past tense regarding Tesla but arrogance was their downfall.

SweetDaddyD · 02-01-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinoo

I think building a fresh new plant seems silly when so many old ones are soon to be sold or idled. I hope they can find a space to build their sedan.

Seems more green too. Isn't that their gimmick after all?

SweetDaddyD · 02-01-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kestrel74

Their "representative" at the Detroit Auto Show couldn't care about anything but typing away on his blackberry all day long. I walked over a few times and he didn't even look up. I looked over at their exhibit quite a few times and never saw him talking to anyone. Who cares when you don't need the business ??

After what they did in Detroit I was amazed they showed their face at all there. I'm not surprised he didn't want to talk to anybody, I'm sure he didn't want to be there either.

You think when they fold they'll announce it by blog post like how they handled firing the entire Detroit office (that was supposed to be working on the Model S. Seems harder to make a car when don't have a plant, can't raise money, and fired everyone working on it

)?

If they ever do start to make the model S I'll run a pool. (I mean Tesla actually making a car themselves, not just marketing a car built by someone else with some other parts slapped in from another company) On how many years behind schedule it is, how far behind their production targets they are (Roadster was supposed to be 800 cars in the first year, - have they hit 20% of that yet?), how far off they were off on their estimate to produce and how much the price increases, and finally how much they raise the price on the deposit holders that they have been holding the money of for years before they let them have a car. Oh heck, I'll through real range vs claimed range into the pool as well, and if Top Gear gives it a good review.

rob13572468 · 02-01-2009, 10:41 PM

here is an article that makes the amazingly similar comparison between musk and preston tucker... interesting stuff...

Deathwatch: Why Tesla's Elon Musk Could Be the New Preston Tucker

01-30-2009, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
sleeprfocus Every Car is a Project Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 816	Beginning of the end. __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise (Jet Blue Metallic) - ForcedFed 340 2002 Ford Focus SVT (Pitch Black) - Powered by 4.6L of V8 goodness

01-30-2009, 03:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,312	Their "representative" at the Detroit Auto Show couldn't care about anything but typing away on his blackberry all day long. I walked over a few times and he didn't even look up. I looked over at their exhibit quite a few times and never saw him talking to anyone. Who cares when you don't need the business ?? __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/

01-30-2009, 04:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
...m... Denuo Volatilis Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,715	...if tesla focuses on creating actual value for revenue they may stand a reasonable chance of building a substantial legacy, but as long as they continue managing themselves like just another silicon valley VC ponzi scheme, they'll never amount to more than an ephemeral footnote... __________________ 2005 Federal Elise \| Touring \| Storm Titanium ...73,000 miles and aging beautifully... 2000 New Beetle \| Turbo \| Reflex Silver ...107,000 miles of steadfast service...

01-30-2009, 04:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Vampyre Sports Cars Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 1,940	No surprise... __________________ 2006 Chili Red / Touring / LSD / TC / Forged Wheels / Hard & Soft Top / Lifestyle Paint / Desnorkeled / Odyssey Battery / Sector 111 Extinguisher Bracket / Sector 111 LidBone / CF Splitter / CF Bits / Lotus Stage 2 / Pure X C3 Corvette 383 TPI Stroker 6.3 liters of Torque / 1976 MG Midget, fun run about / 2005 Mits Evo 8 ACD/SSL / Dodge Van for hauling stuff / http://www.photobucket.com/mygarage

01-30-2009, 04:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
IamBatman Exige? SEXIGE! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,609 Images: 1	weird... I had a friend call me regarding a consulting job there last night. __________________ Phantom Black 2007 Exige S221.56436. All options. Black 01' Mustang Cobra 'Vert ("some" modifications) daily driver Facebook group: Add lightness...and Darkness!

01-30-2009, 05:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
ivan1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bedford, NY Posts: 6,279	If someone wants to make some money, start working on a Tesla to Lotus/2zz conversion kit so when Tesla is no more and noone is interested in maintaining/servicing them the owners can keep their cars from being worthless... __________________ 2008 Elise SC Ardent Red - Touring, Sport, Starshield Previous car - 2005 Elise Saffron Yellow (totaled in flood- the original underwater elise)

01-30-2009, 05:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
IamBatman Exige? SEXIGE! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,609 Images: 1	there's not much maintenance with electric motors. Maybe some kind of cheap battery replacement solution make more sense. __________________ Phantom Black 2007 Exige S221.56436. All options. Black 01' Mustang Cobra 'Vert ("some" modifications) daily driver Facebook group: Add lightness...and Darkness!

01-30-2009, 05:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
shinoo Project Nirvana Elise Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 2,617	I think building a fresh new plant seems silly when so many old ones are soon to be sold or idled. I hope they can find a space to build their sedan. __________________ shinoo sector 111 - tasty bits for your elise & exige

01-31-2009, 10:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bavarian Motorist Live to Drive Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC/Westchester, NY Posts: 10,852	The Governator wants them to build a plant in Northern Cal __________________ Be an alpha male. Drive a Lotus.

01-31-2009, 11:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
ishmael Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 30	Really wanted to see them succeed. Hate to speak in the past tense regarding Tesla but arrogance was their downfall.

02-01-2009, 10:41 PM	#17 (permalink)
rob13572468 the devil's advocate... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Posts: 883	here is an article that makes the amazingly similar comparison between musk and preston tucker... interesting stuff... Deathwatch: Why Tesla's Elon Musk Could Be the New Preston Tucker

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