Tesla has discovered a new energy source: Burning shareholder cash

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://qz.com/549167/tesla-has-discovered-new-energy-source-burning-shareholder-cash/

[font face=Serif]Cash Guzzler
[font size=5]Tesla has discovered a new energy source:[BR]Burning shareholder cash[/font]

Written by
Matt Phillips

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Elon Musk’s auto company is ripping through cash at a prodigious clip, at times burning through roughly $100 million a month.

Given that the company has strung together 10 straight quarterly—not to mention growing—losses, that’s a recipe for incessant infusions of new capital.



No problem. At the moment the markets seem to more than happy to hand over the money that Elon Musk needs to build out the vertically integrated auto behemoth of the future. (The so-called gigafactory in the Nevada desert where Tesla will build advanced lithium-ion batteries is expected to cost around $5 billion.)

But some, such as Barclays auto analyst Brian Johnson, suggest that the market might not totally appreciate the scope of cash that would be needed to complete the build out of Tesla’s ambitions. In a research note today he wrote:

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[4139]

1. Love the headline

[valerief]

2. Isn't 100 million a month less than the cost of the 2016 U.S. presidential election? nt

[MisterP]

3. the way Musk operates, there's no such thing as bad publicity

like the revelation that the test pods for the imaginary technology in the imaginary testbed in the imaginary city built on imaginary water can only go 160 mph with passengers in them

in HSR terms that's called "a schnorrer"

though I AM looking forward to the "destructive testing" portion of the loop

[nationalize the fed]

4. One thing is for sure

You don't want to own one of these cars after the warranty runs out.

Most, if not all of the Model S drive units are failing and will need replacement- and we are talking about $17,000 (list) price + tax and installation for a new one.

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/29834-Drive-Unit-Replacement-Poll
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/49555-Statistical-poll-of-the-drive-unit-issue
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/56103-POLL-Has-your-drive-unit-failed

Musk first said it was a "5 cent shim", then a few weeks ago he said it was "a grease problem". Both are lies, but not the only whoppers this con artist has told (battery swap). As the forums show, drive units in recently delivered cars are failing.

Every battery will one day need replacement and a new Model S battery is $40,000 (list)+ tax and installation. Degradation is not covered by the 8 year unlimited mile warranty. When 186/50 Lithium cells go bad, it's fast- and no one can say for sure how many years of life there are in one of these 1,325 pound battery packs.

Need body work? Since the car is all aluminum you better be prepared to pay, and pay. A new rear quarter panel could cost as much as $20,000.

The motorized door handles that "present themselves" have been a nightmare and if you need a new one out of warranty it's somewhere north of $1,000.

Consumers Reports just took back their recommendation, for good reasons. And Tesla better hope the absurd and silly new gull wing doors are more reliable than the old door handles.

CNN: Consumer Reports yanks Tesla's recommendation
http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/20/autos/consumer-reports-most-reliable-car-brands/index.html

Imagine driving for 8 hours (with the required 45 minute recharging breaks inserted) - you are 120 miles from home but you need one last charge. The only supercharger for miles is in sight- but there's a line. Before you even plug in- you have to wait for 3 or 4 other cars to start, charge and then move out of the way. Your half hour necessity charge just became a 2+ hour wait. If you're lucky. Good times!