Rival Tesla Model X to end production

[richguess]

Like you I wanted a Model S but 100k was more than I wanted to spend. I originally got on the list for a Model 3, a few months later I got an email from Tesla to get a Model S 60 for 65k. It was a software limited 75, came with lifetime free super charging and premium data, with autopilot and leather seats was 72k. I figured the first Model 3s were going to be close to that price and that Tesla was going to start maxing out production for the tax credits so pulled the trigger on the Model S. Between federal tax credit and some state and local rebates got 12k back. 2 years in Tesla sent an offer to lift the software limited and rebadge the car to a 75 for 2k.

10 years and 114k miles later we still have the car and it is still one of our favorite vehicles. Will be sad to see them stop producing that model.

Sweet! And, you’re sticking it to the man with the free charging.

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[savethemanual]

RE: Tesla's Robot....Boston Dynamics has been at this much longer, the latest iteration with Hyundai clearly smokes everything we've seen so far with Optimus. Hyundai will be deploying them in it's factories this year to start testing. If the future is humanoid robots, my $ would be on Atlas.

 

[mkg3]

The thing about the humanoid robots to be able to replace a person to do certain tasks, it requires the agility and ambidextrous motion that the five fingers can do.

Boston Dynamics makes and have been for years, making incredible robots. They are clearly ahead of just about everyone in terms of big motions. They do trail Tesla in small motions. They simply have not focused on it.

I was frankly surprised that the US government allowed the sale to Korean company. I mean. this is far more important than Tick Tock in terms of CFIUS and falls under ITAR.

 

[RIVIANR1SGTR]

Tesla is really doing their best to become irrelevant. If they fail this gamble on these robots, that sofar are totally useless, they are done.

Who really wants robots in their home knowing Elon Mask and Tesla are now visually in your everyday life. This DOA. RIP Tesla, but the stock owners will be pumping it with Tweets everyday.... smh

 

[Druidspirit]

RE: Tesla's Robot....Boston Dynamics has been as this much longer, the latest iteration with Hyundai clearly smokes everything we've seen so far with Optimus. Hyundai will be deploying them in it's factories this year to start testing. If the future is humanoid robots, my $ would be on Atlas.

In 100 years what is left of humans will look back at that commercial and realize that was the beginning of the robot wars .. lol. They look like Gen 1 of NS robots from the I, Robot movie.

 

[SANZC02]

Sweet! And, you’re sticking it to the man with the free charging.

Especially when I take it on cross country trips on their dime.

I have no illusion that it is not actually free but baked into my original purchase price, still satisfying to see no charge when supercharging though.

 

[2kwik4u]

RJ is a car guy at heart, I don't ever see that changing. Yes, Rivian will diverge into other areas, but vehicles are his passion, no doubt.

I understand, and agree.

Just hope he spins the AI chip and autonomy out separate from Rivian (there's a market for this if he can make it modular), and doesn't make it a core ethos of company.

 

[2kwik4u]

There are many nuances, but in general there are OSHA Safety guidelines that pre-date robotic arms regarding machines that can "cause serious injury or death" needing safety barriers. The industry has generally decided to date to take the conservative approach, which is that a robotic arm can start or move unpredicatably and could trap, injure or kill someone due to the speed and/or amount of force. If you look closely at any robotic assembly line, you will not see humans in the zone and somewhere in the background you will see a cage, or perhaps not see the light curtain because it is light.

Biped robots are being designed with human safety in mind via various sensors, not unlike our Rivians. They are much less powerful and typically have force feedback and can be programmed appropriately. Such as, if it senses force on an arm or an object in the way when it is not executing a task expectibf that force or an object, it will shut down immediately. So in a sense, it has a "virtual safety cage" around it via a set of sensors. I think the biggest risk to humans wiht biped robots will be them losing their balance and falling on someone. Human nature illustrated this in a video where a human instinctively reached out to steady a biped that was falling. No need to save the robot, but the human aid instinct took over.

There is a video online of Musk with an Optimus, and the Optimus refuses to walk when commanded. Musk and his companion were too close, so the robot would not start walking.

I've integrated a robotic weld cell, so I know of these things.

The only hiccup in this plan (in my opinion) is putting human safety in the hands of software and not hardware designs. Software can be changed/overwritten and/or edge case buggy. Same premise as keeping crumple zones even with crash avoidance sensors/software. Something like force feedback should be direct circuitry, or mechanically fused, not software driven.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Saw another article that this might be good for Rivian. "Less competition in the market", sort of thing. But I'm of the opinion that more choices will always benefit the consumer, so this is kind of disappointing. Even though I still can't tell the difference between an S, 3, X, Y, on the road. They all look like eggs to me.

 

[2kwik4u]

Saw another article that this might be good for Rivian. "Less competition in the market", sort of thing. But I'm of the opinion that more choices will always benefit the consumer, so this is kind of disappointing. Even though I still can't tell the difference between an S, 3, X, Y, on the road. They all look like eggs to me.

S is a big egg, 3 is a small egg, Y is a medium egg with handles on the back of both doors, X is a medium egg with handles in the middle of the car. CT is the aluminum foil all the eggs came in.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

I think people need to see Tesla as a AI company first, and a car company second.

Tesla has tied their future success directly to the success of the AI programs for good or bad.

A lot of the complaints about Optimus is that its a Humanoid robot that isn't task specific. But, that argument misses the fact that FSD is really a task specific robot as its on 4 wheels.

If you're buying a 3 or a Y without wanting FSD then I question than you're missing out on the defining feature of what you're getting.

The S/X simply were too far away from the core and they had intense competition. There is only so long that Tesla could sell them based on brand recognition.

If I ever buy another Tesla Vehicle I'll be getting it because of FSD and not despite of FSD (like the last one I bought).

If I buy an Optimus Robot I'll be getting it to do a hundreds of tasks.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Saw another article that this might be good for Rivian. "Less competition in the market", sort of thing. But I'm of the opinion that more choices will always benefit the consumer, so this is kind of disappointing. Even though I still can't tell the difference between an S, 3, X, Y, on the road. They all look like eggs to me.

I think its one of those competition in moderation kinds of things.

With the big three pulling back from EV's and with the removal of Tesla S/X its going to enable a healthier marketplace for Lucid. Rivian, and VW (mostly Audi and Porsche). Plus supposedly BMW has quietly making supposedly good higher end EV's.

 

[llninja]

They really should have replaced the S and X with a proper SUV to give the R1S, Cadillac Escalade, Porsche Cayenne EV, and the Germans (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, VW) an option for Tesla fanboys. By completely dropping the S and X without a suitable large SUV, growing families who outgrow the 3 and Y are forced to shop elsewhere.

Then again, if the S and X replacement was an SUV based on CT, then they were smart to do nothing rather than do worse.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

What a horrible waste of an American automotive company. Elon was never really a car guy, will be fascinating to watch their automotive division slowly die.

Ugh, I hate seeing this. I don’t understand why they can’t continue to make EVs AND do all of this other stuff. Not everyone wants (only 15% FSD adoption) or can afford a self-driving pod and/or a robot that spies on your 24/7.

It can’t even fold laundry or do your dishes without a remote operator. I watched another company’s robot try to load the dishwasher and it took 5 minutes for it to put one plate in. We’re not there yet.

 

[Michael Kelly]

Earlier in thread, someone was totaling Tesla's production of all vehicles, how many Rivians in comparable analysis?

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