Todd Lassa, Detroit Bureau Chief for Automobile Magazine, discusses a recent downgrade to Tesla's Model 3 outlook for the fourth quarter as Elon Musk promises a pickup truck and new features to fans.
Lassa adds that Musk's own ambition might be beginning to catch up with him as the Model 3 has not yet proven to be profitable. He notes its major miss of deliveries in the third quarter as well.
Is there a place in the market for a Tesla pickup truck? Three major manufacturers are making $90 billion in that market, but Lassa notes how inexpensive a Ford F-150 is in comparison to the cost of a Tesla truck. He estimates that it would be several years before a car like that would become profitable for the company.
Tesla reported a surprise increase in sales in the third quarter as the electric car maker likely benefited from a rush by consumers to take advantage of a $7,500 credit before it expired on Sept. 30. The company reported Thursday that sales in the three months through September rose 7% compared to the same period a year ago. The gain follows two quarters of steep declines as people turned off by CEO Elon Musk’s foray into right-wing politics avoided buying his company’s cars and even protested at some dealerships. Sales rose to 497,099 vehicles, compared with 462,890 in the same period last year.
Tom’s Guide Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer breaks down Apple & Amazon's latest product drops—what's hot, what's hype, and what really matters for users.
InnerPlant CEO Shely Aronov reveals how engineered crops like soybeans and corn emit signals when stressed—offering farmers early warnings to boost yields.
Payoneer CEO John Caplan discusses the implications of $100K H1B visa requirements—and how they could reshape tech talent, hiring, and U.S. competitiveness.
Electronic Arts, the video game maker of “Madden NFL,” “The Sims,” and other popular titles, is being acquired and taken private for about $52.5 billion in what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private-equity firms.