The new Model S sedan, which will carry a price tag of $57,400
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the company would launch an all-electric Model S sedan next year. Now, Musk has told Bloomberg Television that next year's production of the new Model S has sold out, and that he expects Tesla to earn a profit in 2013.
Recent reports noted that Tesla has lost money on every Roadster sold, which includes the two-seat Roadster and the Roadster Sport, which had price tags of $109,000 and $128,500 respectively. The news came yesterday that a new Roadster will arrive in 2014, and that a range of vehicles are expected over the next four to five years as well, including the new Model S sedan, which will carry a price tag of $57,400.
"The Model S starts at half price of the Roadster, about $50,000," said Musk, noting that the original Roadster will no longer be in production and was always limited. "The Roadster is high price, low volume. Model S is mid-price, mid-volume. Our third generation, which will be in 3 or 4 years will be low price, high volume. It is the only strategy that could work because we need to build up the economies of scale."
Tesla Model S [Source: Tesla Motors]
The loss on each Roadster was just part of the problem for Tesla. The company is also facing scrutiny in regards to its worthiness of receiving government funding. Many have compared Tesla and Fisker Automotive's EV loans to the huge $500 million loan given to solar company Solyndra, which went bankrupt in September.
"I defended it and I have said if you have a portfolio of loans, and they're acknowledged to be high risk, you're going to have some failures in the mix," said Musk regarding Solyndra. "One should not expect to bat 1000. Critics say why can't the government bat 1000. The best venture capitalists on Earth can't bat 1000, why do you expect the government to?"
Musk is looking ahead to a brighter future for Tesla, brushing aside worries regarding competition such as that from BYD. Musk said he didn't think BYD's products were all that "great" or attractive anyway, and that the technology isn't all that strong. According to Musk, BYD needs to concentrate on the issues at hand in China.
Tesla Model S [Source: Tesla Motors]
The upcoming potential for a profit in 2013 and the Model S sellout have Tesla thinking optimistically toward the future where Musk envisions the entire industry going electric.
"I think the entire industry will go fully electric," said Musk. "I think that all modes of transport will go fully electric with the exception, ironically, of rockets. The question is just how soon.”
Source: Bloomberg Television
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