Tesla’s recently announced production and delivery figures for the second quarter of 2016 point to a battery that’s either half-full or half-empty, depending on your outlook. On one hand, Q2 production and deliveries both fell slightly short of projections. On the other hand, production continues to ramp up quickly. While Q2 production of 18,345 units… Read more »
Clean tech consultant Julian Cox made some interesting points about the coming disruption of the auto industry in a presentation at CleanTechnica’s recent Cleantech Revolution Tour in Berlin. Cox begins his talk with a recap of some past technological disruptions, which he says have usually played out within 20-30 years (good news for us older… Read more »
Elon Musk made a move to consolidate his business empire as Tesla announced an offer to buy SolarCity for around $2.8 billion. Musk is the Chairman of SolarCity, CEO of Tesla, and the largest shareholder of both companies. Musk and Antonio Gracias, who is also on the board of directors at both companies, recused themselves from voting on this proposal…. Read more »
Tesla has a long-standing relationship with Panasonic, as a battery supplier and a partner in the Gigafactory. So EV-savvy ears perked up at news that the California carmaker had met with a trio of Korean battery-builders. In fact, Reuters reported that Samsung SDI was “making progress” in talks with Tesla to supply batteries for Model… Read more »
As it faces a huge pile of orders for Model 3, Tesla’s new challenge is not to build great cars (it’s already proven it can do that), but to build great cars quickly, in large volume. Along the way, it just might add manufacturing to the list of realms it has reshaped. As Elon Musk… Read more »
Tesla made automotive history on March 31, when it unveiled the culmination of its master plan to bring EVs to the masses. The company has committed to delivering a car with the parameters that pundits have identified as the tipping point for widespread EV sales: 200 miles of range and a price tag in the… Read more »
Tesla will need a big pot of new capital to get the Model 3 production line up and running. The company opted to raise a few bucks in a new equity offering, which turned out to be a big success. The underwriters, led by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, exercised their options to buy as… Read more »
Vehicle autonomy is developing on a parallel course with electrification. Tesla is at the forefront of this trend with its Autopilot features, keeping it a nose ahead of any potential competition from other automakers. Every day, more Autopilot-driven miles are added to the body of data that the company is amassing. Tesla said in April… Read more »
“Definitely going to need to rethink production planning,” tweeted Elon Musk when he learned of the explosive demand for his latest creation. Seldom has such a short sentence been so freighted with risk, opportunity…and a whole lot of hard work. Ramping up annual production by a factor of ten will be a major challenge, one… Read more »
Following the departure of two top manufacturing executives, Tesla Motors has hired Peter Hochholdinger, a 22-year veteran of Audi who oversaw the production of the company’s A4, A5 and Q5 models. Mr. Hochholdinger was also involved in bringing Audi’s new Mexican production facility online. Hochholdinger will be Tesla’s new VP of Vehicle Production, replacing Greg… Read more »