Here’s Why Tesla Doesn’t Need Traditional Automotive Marketing (Wall St. Cheat Sheet)
Despite the fact that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) spends no money advertising, does not employ an ad agency or a chief marketing officer, and has no dealership network, the company’s founder Elon Musk is building an auto brand whose reputation far exceeds the 10,000 cars it has sold in the past 10 years. Proselytizing customers is one way Musk has capitulated Tesla to the status of a cult brand; pushing test drives is another. The fact that the automaker earned its first profit in company history last quarter and Consumer Reports gave the Model S sedan an unprecedented review has also served to triple Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s stock so far this year and assure industry watchers that Musk’s decision to eschew the rules of automotive marketing just might work.
When it comes to drag racing, most people want to find the fastest vehicle they can. In most cases, this doesn’t mean one that is electric only. However, DragTimes recently took a closer look at the Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S. In short, they wanted to see how the car would perform on the track in terms of energy use and cost. “The Tesla Model S we tested was equipped with the 85 kWh battery and the Performance Package which makes it the most powerful and highest capacity car that Tesla currently offers. Power output for this Model S is 416 HP and 443 ft-lbs of torque and the car weighs in at 4,700 pounds.
Tesla’s 2013 Model S Is a Game-Changer (DailyFinance)
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has been a mind-boggling topic of late. From its seemingly overnight appearance in the auto industry, which no one believed a start-up company could break into, to its three-month price jump from less than $40 a share to more than $100, consumers and investors can’t get enough. Tesla and its founder, Elon Musk, have shaken up the industry with a revolutionary electric vehicle … or luxury vehicle … or is it both? Whatever its segment niche is, as long as the Model S backs up the hype, the future is bright for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), right? Perhaps that will be true, but automotive juggernauts Ford , General Motors , and Toyota will have a lot to say about that.
UPDATE: Global Equities Research Initiates Tesla Motors at Overweight on New Transport Service Industry (Benzinga)
In a report published Monday, Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry initiated coverage on Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) with an Overweight rating and $150.00 price target. In the report, Global Equities Research noted, “We are initiating coverage on Tesla Motors (TSLA) with an overweight rating and with a 12 – 18 months Price Target of $150. Tesla is creating a completely new $100 Billion Industry, which we at Global Equities Research call ‘Transport-as-a-Service’ (TaaS). Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has Mobility Vehicles, Software & Applications, Tesla Cloud, PowerGrid and futuristic Hyperloop, which we think may help Tesla capture about 60% of this TaaS Industry, which spans Anything and Everything between Bicycles and Hyperloop.
Editorial Roundup: Tesla’s bump in the road (SouthCoastToday.com)
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), the start-up founded by Elon Musk to build luxury electric cars, has benefited mightily from government support. A half-billion-dollar federal loan, recently repaid, helped the company weather the Great Recession. Tesla logged its first quarterly profit this year, thanks to emission credits it earned under a California regulatory scheme. But in one crucial respect, government has been working against Mr. Musk and his fledgling enterprise — and rather unfairly at that. We refer to the state laws that protect existing car dealerships and their various prerogatives, including laws in most states that make it illegal to sell new automobiles without a license, as well as many other statutes that make it nearly impossible for a manufacturer to fire a dealer. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s business plan, however, hinges on direct sales to consumers through company-owned stores.
