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Tesla Model X
Armen Hareyan's picture
By Armen Hareyan Sep 2 2015 - 4:44pm

Am I the only one who thinks the Tesla Model X is a move in the wrong direction?

If Elon Musk wants to make Tesla a mainstream car, is it going to the wrong direction with Model X? People are hoping for a Tesla model that will cost less than $30,000 and go 200 miles on a single charge, while Tesla is coming up with a Model X, which costs $132,000 and going to $144,000 with upgrades.
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Yesterday Tesla revealed the details of its expensive Model X SUV. I went online and searched to see what people think about this release and found this interesting question posted in one of the auto discussion boards. I think the person who asks the question has a good point. Do you think so too?

"Tesla announced the new "signature series" SUV model X. It starts at $134,000 and features most notably falcon doors and a 240 mile range. However to me that seems like a step in the wrong direction.

"Elon Musk wants electric cars to become the main stream way of transportation over gas. They already announced the Model E which is supposed to be the "cheap" option however how are they going to make electric mainstream by coming out with these high priced models? If they want to get more Teslas on the road why come out with a higher priced one? Plus at that price range I can't imagine people would choose an SUV over stuff like the S-Class.

"The only thing I can think of is they are trying to compete with Porsche but still this doesn't seem like the right step, at least to me. Anyone care to give me a reason to not think that? Anyone feel the same way?"

Reference: Reddit.

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Comments

Weapon wrote on September 2, 2015 - 7:23pm
It is not a step in the wrong direction, it is just a lot of confusion from media outlets sending a lot of misinformation which leads to more confusion. The Model X was outlined since I think 2011. Aka, it was planned before even people got the Model S. To understand the purpose of the Model X you have to look at Tesla's development timeline and growth projections. Tesla right now plans to produce over 50k cars this year. The Model 3 can not be produced until late 2017 because the gigafactory has to be up. So Tesla has a gap of 2016 and early 2017 to fill. In 2016, Tesla's production rate will most likely be almost 100k. And in 2017 at least 150k. As good as the Model S is, it can't alone fit that production rate. The purpose of the Model X serves to monetize the Gen 2 platform until the Gen 3 platform is ready. It is not going in the wrong direction, it is going in the same direction as outlined for in the master plan. Start with high end models to fund production of an affordable car. Tesla is going in the most logical direction possible, one they outlined since the beginning. Now to address the 2nd misconception. The high price you see is for the Signature Model X model, which always cost more and are optioned out. Musk tweeted that Model X with same options as Model S will cost only 5k more which should place base price at 80k. Musk also tweeted that the Tesla Model 3 will be unveiled in March 2016 and will begin pre-orders then.
mike w wrote on September 2, 2015 - 8:16pm
Elon Musk already tweeted that the Model X will only be $5000 more than a similarly equipped Model S. Even the Model S was originally only sold as "Signature" series. This is nothing new. So please tell me what is the wrong direction. replacing gas swilling SUVs with a electric Model X? Paying $5000 more for an SUV instead of a sedan? The wrong direction? The Model 3 will be the main stream car not the Model X.
Ed wrote on September 2, 2015 - 10:28pm
"Elon Musk" bio by Ashlee Vance states that Musk is depending on profits from the Model X to produce the Model 3. The story of Tesla seems to be a series of creative moves and lucky breaks that narrowly avoid financial disaster. One bad break could doom the company.
Bill wrote on September 3, 2015 - 12:16am
Interesting writeup and a surprise to me. I heard no where that Model X and any Tesla car to be at the range of less than $30,000 with a single charge for 200 miles. It is practically not possible by nowadays technology plus cost of production. If someone from Tesla says it, he must be a liar. I guess the writer here can say he is disappointed since technology is not as good as he wants. I believe lots of people may HOPE the same as write to have a cheap EV but that is not realistic in 2015 or even up to 2017. Moreover, I guess Tesla always to be the mainstream car for certain "class", not the mainstream car on the road competing with all brands and availability, which does not make any sense!!
JimS1961 wrote on September 3, 2015 - 6:26am
Startup auto companies like DeLorean failed because they tried to go from zero to mass production too quickly. Tesla has a three phase plan to get to mass production. Phase one was to produce a low volume, high end sports car, the Roadster, to impress everyone and attract the attention of potential investors. Phase two is about producing a high profit margin, high-end luxury sedan at a significantly higher volume than the Roadster. To generate revenue Tesla needs to become profitable and grow rapidy if they want to build a gigafactory. Phase two seems to be working well. Tesla continues to increase the production rate of the Model S and customer demand (without advertising) is still staying ahead of supply. The Model X makes sense in phase two of Tesla's three phase plan. The P85D Ludicrous mode also makes sense.
Trevor Robertson wrote on February 1, 2016 - 6:05pm
I'm pretty sure Delorean failed because they made an overweight and overpriced car with supercar styling and pinto performance. They literally did everything wrong. Tesla's attention to detail and impeccable quality standards put these two companies on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Dean Miller wrote on September 3, 2015 - 6:28am
LOL!! How easily the media "I use the term loosely" can criticize something that has been in the works since 2012 and earlier. There's one little thing you forget about the Model 3. To build it you must first build a 5 billion dollar battery factory that produces more batteries that the entire world currently produces called the Gigafactory. That takes time and money. Are you proposing Tesla only sell one car until 2018? If the could make the Model 3 now they would.
David White wrote on December 11, 2015 - 8:52am
Yes, you are. Probably because you think that opinion will get more readers.