Current Events > Elon Musk admits Tesla has quality problems

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/03/business/elon-musk-tesla-quality-problems/index.html

Critics have slammed Tesla for Model 3 quality issues for years. And now CEO Elon Musk is admitting even his harshest critic was right. In early 2018 engineering consultant Sandy Munro, who tears apart and reverse-engineers cars to assess quality, issued a brutal appraisal of the Model 3 citing "flaws that we would see on a Kia in the '90s." He noted inconsistencies such as uneven gaps between exterior panels and paint job issues, telling Autoline, "I can't imagine how they released this." Surprisingly Musk, who has often bristled at criticism, agrees. "I thought your criticism was accurate," Musk told Munro in an interview that aired Tuesday on the YouTube channel and podcast "Munro Live."

In the interview Musk also admitted that it might not be a good idea to buy a Tesla during a new model's ramp-up period. Munro's "Kia" critique came when Tesla was still struggling to meet early production targets for the Model 3. Musk's admission is quite a warning considering that the company is getting ready to start production of the Cybertruck pickup late this year, and is set to open new plants outside of Austin, Texas, and Berlin, Germany. "Friends ask, 'When should I buy a Tesla?'" Musk said. "Well, either buy it right at the beginning or when production reaches steady state. During that production ramp, it's super hard to be in vertical climb mode and get everything right on the details."



---

He just wants to drop the stock price so more noob investors can get in

---

ouch, it's about to tank lol.

---

That's pretty surprising. The actual comment and the fact he'd admit that publicly

zip zoop watch that stock

I'm in if it dips below 200

Lebronwon posted...

In the interview Musk also admitted that it might not be a good idea to buy a Tesla during a new model's ramp-up period.

This is a very bad thing for a CEO to say about their product lol
---

Smashingpmkns posted...

This is a very bad thing for a CEO to say about their product lol

The honesty is refreshing.

---

Squall28 posted...

The honesty is refreshing.

Not really.
---

In the interview Musk also admitted that it might not be a good idea to buy a Tesla during a new model's ramp-up period.

Imagine a Sony CEO going out saying "I really wouldn't buy the PS5 during the new console's ramp-up period"

---

there's a segment of the population that'll excuse anything elon musk does or says and i don't get it

---

Lebronwon posted...

"flaws that we would see on a Kia in the '90s."

damn thats bad.

i drove a rental Kia in the 90s and it almost killed me. twice.

---

my wife drove a kia that caught on fire while driving down the highway at 70 mph
two years ago
lol

---

AllegraD posted...

In the interview Musk also admitted that it might not be a good idea to buy a Tesla during a new model's ramp-up period.

Imagine a Sony CEO going out saying "I really wouldn't buy the PS5 during the new console's ramp-up period"

Would still sell for $1500 and thus people would still lap it up

Smashingpmkns posted...

Not really.

no it really really is actually. I work in biotech and have worked in a few regulated industries prior to this.

This shit happens pretty much everywhere for the most part and a lot of places cover it up or write it off. We have serious issues with proper regulation in the states and we have serious issues with motivation so quality issues are a problem regardless of the attempt to mitigate it through process and engineering controls.

so its nice to see someone honest about it. A serious discussion should be had on the subject cause I guarantee you Tesla is not the only company dealing with this.

---

The Trent posted...

there's a segment of the population that'll excuse anything elon musk does or says and i don't get it

other way around. I feel like this topic is a lot of people preferring if he just stayed quiet about it or butted heads back. Fuck musk and whatever happens to him but shit like this should be applauded so consumers get some better idea of whats going on imo.

---

I just bought a share 850. What the fuck lol

---

I think it's good that he's being honest about it, but the takeaway should not be "wow I always knew he had integrity" and instead "hmm maybe I've been drinking the kool aid a bit on this man's products"

Nor should the takeaway be "this is bad for the stocks" but instead "are they going to get serious on building a product that actually belongs in this industry"

of course its got quality problems. the damn things are intentionally over-complicated and masked with claims of over-engineering. half the problem is its a start-up car company and their designs aren't streamlined like most established car companies would, the other half is they're following the apple model of manufacturing and making it hard to impossible for people to work on their own cars...

---

GrabASnickers posted...

I think it's good that he's being honest about it, but the takeaway should not be "wow I always knew he had integrity" and instead "hmm maybe I've been drinking the kool aid a bit on this man's products"

Nor should the takeaway be "this is bad for the stocks" but instead "are they going to get serious on building a product that actually belongs in this industry"

hush

---

I mean if Musk cared he would have called back the release of the Tesla model 3 instead of selling it for another 3 years.

---

GrabASnickers posted...

I think it's good that he's being honest about it, but the takeaway should not be "wow I always knew he had integrity" and instead "hmm maybe I've been drinking the kool aid a bit on this man's products"

Nor should the takeaway be "this is bad for the stocks" but instead "are they going to get serious on building a product that actually belongs in this industry"

Yeah I'm not saying he's a man of high integrity. Just saying it's nice to not get the corporate speak answer.

---

AllegraD posted...

Imagine a Sony CEO going out saying "I really wouldn't buy the PS5 during the new console's ramp-up period"

Would be 100% accurate though.