Comments on: Tesla to close Michigan R&D center

By: The Stig

The Stig — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:42:17 +0000

Tesla’s next car will be called “mams skyward.”

By: BMW M1

BMW M1 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:17:01 +0000

oops canuck

By: BMW M1

BMW M1 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:16:38 +0000

hahahah, alright cancuk u win!

By: deutschetouring1337

deutschetouring1337 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:14:47 +0000

Egh your wrong there IDS niche markets will always thrive with enough people. To be honest I’d rather have a Venturi Fetish, or even a Lotus Clone using the Elise chassis.

By: sudo95

sudo95 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:05:25 +0000

They closed this R&D because Chrysler showed off those 3 e-models that are extremely similar to what they were going to offer. It’s too bad they realized that they couldn’t even compete with the smallest of the big 3 when it comes to validating a electric car for everday use. I really would’ve liked to see a small company go up against the giants.

The resources of a struggling company are still to be reckened with.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:35:04 +0000

Spingood Tanoya,

I wholly agree.

“I travails of a young automaker continue.”

They might have more luck in the EU than the US right now though, unfortunately.

By: Spingood Tanoya

Spingood Tanoya — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:30:10 +0000

Tesla’s starting to look more like Tucker every day. Build a few technically advanced prototypes, make a handful of “production” vehicles that run into a variety of issues that delay mass production (e.g. transmissions), wow the press with what’s coming “real soon now,” and then keep delaying…and postponing…and rearranging the Titanic’s deck chairs.

While I’d like to see Tesla start making cars that real people can buy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them eventually give up on manufacturing and instead license whatever technology they own to other manufacturers.

By: crackerhemi

crackerhemi — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:29:02 +0000

Having an R&D facility in Michigan is an oxymoron. Everyone knows that no one in Michigan has a masters, or even a bachelors degree. How can you do R&D with only a high school education?

By: rds130

rds130 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:05:17 +0000

This is the nature of the business. They may be tech geeks and car guys but they clearly have no concept of how large scale international business works, particularly where sustainability is concern. I think this is something almost every company has to learn. Quite frankly, much like Lutz and the Volt, I think they should’ve kept their mouths closed until they were closer, but then again, much like Lutz and the Volt, a lot is riding on Tesla’s technology being viable, sustainable, reliable and affordable sometime in the (near) future. Tesla, however, has the opposite job of gathering consumer and director-interest. GM has the more difficult job of keeping it in turbulent times when everybody’s a skeptic. I’d like to see them both weather this storm and come out stronger on the other end of the tunnel.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:46:42 +0000

Damn, I guess I might have to go back to licking Duracells.