It’s easy to think of Tesla Motors as just a bunch of Silicon Valley zillionaires that decided to bolt an electric drivetrain to a rebodied Lotus Elise. However, the company is dead set on proving themselves to be much more than that. Some proponents even see them as a cornerstone on which the future of the American automotive industry will be built. Now, Tesla is asking the US government to fork over $400 million in federal loans from the $25 billion package passed by Congress last year for the American auto industry. Some are questioning why Tesla is worthy of such taxpayer backing, suggesting the company only caters to a niche of rich customers and even richer benefactors. Of course, you’ve got the flip side of the argument, with Autoblog founder, internet tycoon, and Tesla Roadster owner Jason Calacanis making the case for Tesla being a company that will benefit our entire nation in the not-so-distant future. So which side do you stand on in this debate? Does Tesla deserve the bailout loan? [Sources:NYTimes, Calacanis]
Posted By: Mark Arnold |
Tags: Automaker Bailouts Bailouts Electric Cars Silicon Valley Tesla Tesla Motors Tesla Roadster
I’m fine with Tesla getting $400M, as long as Saleen gets $400M too.
Nope, not worthy.
If the market says they fail, like GM, they fail. I’ve had business’ tank and recently got laid off. Where’s my money? My employment and business’ fueled the economy as well.
I love em’ but electric cars for the majority of drivers are still a LONG way off.
What are Tesla’s assets? What do we get should they go belly up like the tester in France a couple of weeks back? $400M is less than 2% of the overall proposed loan, but it doesn’t look like the big guys are getting that either.
I’m 100% behind Ark.
Actually, $500M to Saleen
We can all diss Tesla for what they have not done, but how many other companies are delivering production EV cars? Let alone ones that do 0-60 that quick.
So it is based on an Elise, at least they choose a good platform - Aston etc has copied the manufacturing processes of the Lotus bonded chassis.
How many Volt’s have you seen on the road? I have driven a Tesla Roadster. Very impressive. Not just its speed but the whole packaging of the electronics and battery pack.
So give them the *LOAN* - you stand more chance of getting it back than from Detroit or AIG.
Oh and if Saleen write up a plan with as much promise they get another $400M as well.
We could add some other innovative manufacturers to the list as well, but most of them are not American. Do you think we could persuade Artega to relocate?