ELON MUSK released a teaser showcasing three new Teslas during the company’s annual shareholder meeting
The teaser couldn’t have come at a better time, as Musk’s once-dedicated fan base isn’t all that impressed with the company’s recent output.
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Many consumers agree that Tesla does not offer interesting, new and affordable products.
At the June 13 meeting, Musk confirmed that new vehicles are in the works, showing a slide with three models under mysterious white sheets.
However, he did not mention details about the appearance or potential features.
From the teaser, consumers noticed that one of the vehicles appeared to be a tall, square van.
The other two models looked smaller and sleeker.
In April 2024, Musk also said that it is accelerating the launch of new models, including more affordable vehicles, that consumers have been requesting.
When Tesla was in its early days, there was little competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
At the time, electric cars had a reputation for being slow, boring and inefficient.
After years of uninterrupted growth, Tesla’s vehicle deliveries fell 8.5% in the first quarter of 2024.
Since Tesla represents a large portion of the EV market, this does not bode well for EV adoption as a whole in the US.
“Teslas are great, but it seems like the electric vehicle requires a lot of customization.” a user X said.
“To me, they’re all basically identical. I really like tuning an engine or installing new parts, but what’s there to do with a Tesla? Paint it? Haha”
Instead of addressing consumer complaints, Musk doubled down on Tesla’s efforts in self-driving cars and robotics.
In fact, he suggested a new feature that appears to allow Teslas to communicate with pedestrians.
Electric versus gas vehicles
Pros and cons of electric vehicles versus gasoline-powered vehicles
EV PROS:
- Convenient (when charging at home)
- Cheapest (depending on the state or city)
- Cheaper maintenance due to lack of mechanical parts
- Great for commuting
- Reduced CO2 emissions
- Federal and state tax incentives
- More performance (speed, handling – depending on make and model)
EV CONS:
- Higher initial cost
- Higher Insurance Rates
- More frequent tire and brake replacement intervals
- Higher tare weight (thus causing faster wear on crucial parts)
- Low resale value
- High depreciation rates
- Lack of charging infrastructure
- Unreliable public loading (related: slow loading times)
- Poor performance in winter and summer
- Lack of clean energy alternatives means more “dirty energy” from coal and nuclear sources
- Range anxiety
PROS OF GAS:
- Highly developed refueling infrastructure
- Fast replenishment
- Cheapest insurance rates depending on make, model and configuration
- Established repair industry
- Lower initial cost
- Greater range before refueling, especially with hybrids
- Many manufacturers produce engines with almost fewer emissions
- Cheaper refueling depending on location
CONS OF GAS:
- Finite resource (related: heavy dependence on oil)
- Carbon emissions/greenhouse gases
- Higher repair costs
- Higher insurance rates depending on make, model and configuration
- Varied costs at the pump depending on the state, city and municipality
Source: Driver, Perch Energy, Automatic Week
Despite pressure from the EV market, Musk was slow to introduce a cheaper model that could boost sales.
Instead, in recent years, Tesla has focused its efforts on launching the Cybertruck – an expensive pickup truck that auto industry experts say won’t boost sales.
Tesla is also in the process of laying off nearly 14,000 employees, including senior executives
In recent years, there is a lot more competition when it comes to electric vehicles.
Other companies are offering interesting products at lower prices.
“Basically, the world has caught up with Tesla,” said Professor Peter Wells, director of the Automotive Industry Research Center at Cardiff University. BBC.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
