Tesla promised a 35k Model 3 in 2016.

Entering that into a CPI inflation calculator, that is $50k in 2026 dollars due to inflation.

A Model 3 today starts at $38, which is WELL BELOW the 2016 promise. Corrected for inflation, that's roughly $28k in 2016 dollars

They effectively overdelivered on that promise.

The complaint here, is that Chinese manufacturers, who are mostly in a death battle against each other and not profitable are even cheaper than Tesla and Toyota. In the long run, I suspect that picture will simply not be sustainable for those companies.

▲

paimapi 12 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I love the pro-Tesla crowd's selective memories. There was a $25,000 model they promised in 2020 - that's $32k in today's money.

https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-promised-25-000-ev...

if the $4k difference in today's money is nothing to you, I've got a Venmo you can donate to. I'll even ship you a decade-old GTX 1080 that's still functioning :)

▲

LarsDu88 12 hours ago | parent [-]

It was originally 35,000 in 2016 verifiable by a simple Google search: https://www.cars.com/articles/tesla-finally-puts-the-model-3...

$25,000 was speculative in 2020 not a hard deliverable, but $35,000 was the main promise which was delivered. I'm not even an Elon fanboy. I think he's a white supremacist. But credit is due where credit is due.

▲

paimapi 10 hours ago | parent [-]

no, he literally said 25,000. it's even on video: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/18/elon-musk-tesla-could-produc...

I mean, this is just another case of Elon issuing totally unrealistic claims to pump his stock since it isn't a formal press release. but much like all of his rantings and ravings on Twitter and I'd rather treat them as concrete promises since they have realworld economic effects and wide-ranging consequences

	▲	LarsDu88 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The $35,000 figure was presented on stage in front of a massive audience in an atmosphere where the government was recently still handing out $5,000 subsidies for EVs in 2016. I remember seeing this presentation. This $25,000 figure was mentioned off handedly in an interview years later with MKBHD. I remember this very clearly. Going in front of investors at a formal presentation and speculating in front of a youtuber are not the same thing. The $35,000 figure was viewed as ambitious at the time, but now both Tesla and numerous other auto manufacturers offer cheaper models.

▲

Kirby64 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> The complaint here, is that Chinese manufacturers, who are mostly in a death battle against each other and not profitable are even cheaper than Tesla and Toyota. In the long run, I suspect that picture will simply not be sustainable for those companies.

Citation needed. Yes, the many Chinese manufacturers are fighting each other... but I see no reason why they can't maintain prices. And I doubt they're all unprofitable, especially the big ones like BYD.

▲

LarsDu88 12 hours ago | parent [-]

It's not a matter of maintaining prices. It's what will happen when a winner emerges and the winner naturally raises prices.

▲

paimapi 10 hours ago | parent [-]

is this what happens in China's market? because my understanding is that China loves having an array of competitors. their entire strategy is just to 'build the stage' (via infra buildouts, workforce training, etc) for private enterprises to capitalize on which means rich fields for everyone. and the more that compete, the better it is for their economy. it's why there's something like six large smartphone makers all competing with one another (not counting the myriad smaller makers that exist) - how many large smartphone makers exist in the US?

	▲	jonnycomputer 9 hours ago \| parent [-]
		But the companies are not profitable; their losses are being covered by the Chinese state. The question is whether this is actually an effective strategy long term.