I once read an opinion that stated that Tesla will eventually lose because they don't continually introduce new or updated models (say, every year) like other car brands do, and that person thought that they will lose customer favor because of it because their cars will be "the old thing" with no "new thing" available. In other words: Cars are fashion too, and Tesla only has one entry in each category. It's a good entry, but it's only one entry nevertheless.

I thought that was an interesting observation, and I've been reminded of it ever since. Maybe that person was right.

While unlikely to be that person, haha, I have mentioned that before. And I think the fashion argument is just one part of it. This whole time, it has showcased a hole in Tesla's capability. They simply aren't able to iterate their fleet. Look at Kia and Hyundai. They have dozens of models across all sorts of markets, and they were able to waltz into the EV market with immediate success. They already have more EV and hybrid models than Tesla's EV models and are quickly adding more. There's also an argument that hybrids are a growing, relatively untapped market sector, something Tesla is unlikely to be able to expand into.

An interesting take. I think we're already moving in a direction (at least in the US) where Tesla is becoming less "cool," but that's mostly because of their CEO, not their cars.

Tesla targets a very narrow range of the car market. It doesn't make much sense for them to have two similar-sized models, because the Venn diagram of "people who want an EV" and "people who want a $SIZE $BODY_STYLE" is already pretty narrow.

The only mistake Toyota made in the UK was to re-brand the Corolla as an Auris. They paddled back but not to the status they once enjoyed?

Did you not know that the Model S and X had new body, interior, mechanicals just a couple years ago? Making it the quickest production car ever made. How is that ancient history?

What on earth are you on about? Model S and X have absolutely no competition in their price ranges.

How is that true? The Model S is over a decade old at this point. The Kia and Hyundai offerings easily compete if not outcompete Tesla.

Model S price segment competitiors: Porsche Taycan, Mercedes EQS, Lucid Air, BMW i7, Genesis G80 EV, Audi e-tron GT

Model X price segment competitors: Audi Q8/SQ8 e-tron, BMW iX, Mercedes EQS SUV, Lotus Eletre

There are dozens of EVs with better powertrains and interiors for less money than the S/X. I have merely listed cars with similar MSRPs.

Isn't the Porsche Taycan in the Model S price range?

Even the cheapest trim is way more expensive, and way worse specced.

What about Model 3 and Model Y? Would you say the same thing aout any other manufacturer that has kept a particular model around?

All that aside, Tesla's approach is to have a few overall form factors and to innovate in software. The hardware is fine and matters a lot less.

> The hardware is fine and matters a lot less.

The very post that started this discussion says otherwise. Software doesn't get you from A to B on its own.

it is an interesting strategy here, does misdirection apply well outside if magic? does this work in actual conversation?

It was meant to be a joke to a begin with, but people took it very seriously.

That's just a single example. To add just such an example to the other end of the scales: their factories still move at a glacial pace. Even a tortoise is faster.