[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

A couple of points:

GM have a product that is close, they are not too far away from having a battery that is significantly better than the BOLT currently has.

Very few companies are as nimble as Tesla. I am working on two vehicle battery programs in Detroit right now. The design delays, the launch length, and the lack of 'push' within the organization are shocking.

Tesla has kept a LOT of his technology not just in the USA, but in his factories. He is never far from a problem. My customers are a long way away and their factory will be in the third world. Cheaper, but slower.

Tesla is first to market, he has proven (to most people) that e-cars are a viable and fun car (or second car). We are going to be at Stage II very soon: who can do it cheapest. If you are one of the big boys you better design out all the costs you can. This will be an epic battle. Does it end with a Chinese car ordered off Amazon?

I totally understand organizational inertia with regards to a big company that is heavily invested in R&D. BUT, I think you are seeing the downside to some of Tesla's approach. Nimble and fast has also translated to a low quality product that doesn't meet most of the published performance parameters. All domestic manufacturing with little outsourcing has yielded a product that loses money. While the big guys may be slow and cumbersome, I'm also certain that there is a method to their madness.