In the United States, it is not common to start a new car company from scratch.
The last real success was around 100.
Tesla Motors, a startup from Silicon Valley, faces some unusual obstacles.
Despite Tesla's challenges, Elon Musk, the electric vehicle company and its CEO, went further than most car entrepreneurs.
The company will launch a new Supercharger network
In less than an hour, you can refuel the battery in the car.
So far, Tesla has built a small number of cars for high-end cars. end market.
Now it wants to be mainstream.
The first step in starting a successful car company is to build the car people want.
Tesla has checked the box.
Its new Model S is beautiful. It's a four-door Sedan;
It has a hatchback;
It allows five adults to sit in their seats, and two other children to sit in jump seats on the "Way Back.
"It has a smooth front hood --
If you're British
But below, there is no engine.
Instead, what they call "frunk" is an extra suitcase.
"The reason it might have a car is that the engine that powers the car is relatively small --
This means there is more space inside.
Outside it looks a bit like a Jaguar
Fashion But curve.
In the middle it inspires an undignified desire. aged men.
"Cars will definitely surprise people.
I think this is the most important way to deal with it, "said Tesla's Dayo Gomih.
Model S of 85-kilowatt-
The hourly battery pack is available from Los Angeles to San Diego and can come back with a single charge-
Over 250 miles.
The car's center of gravity is the lowest of any car made, says Gomih.
Most of the weight in the car is in the battery, they are distributed under the floor;
In fact, Tesla is designing a car for the minivan/SUV crowd.
It will have the same power as Model S and a similar price tag
In the end, Musk said, the company will produce another car that more of us can afford.
"Tesla has been producing mass products since the beginning, and that's really my goal --
Market cars, "Musk said.
Now, the price of Model S is between $50,000 and $100,000, which is an affordable future.
Tesla sold more of its first car.
"I think in Tesla we do get some unfair criticism because we have Tesla sports cars and people say, 'Well, why are you making this expensive sports car?
"It's like we somehow feel like the rich or others are missing sports cars," Musk said . ".
"But, in fact, even though I will try to say, you see, our goal from the beginning is to push the electric car revolution, and we need time to refine the technology.
Enter the second edition and enter the third edition.
Really, with version three.
$30,000 car
This is where it becomes the mass market.
"To do this, Tesla must be a real car company;
Prices of batteries need to plummet;
The taste of consumers must be changed.
Tesla has ordered 10,000 for Model S.
The company moved out of a small garage in Menlo Park, California. —
Where did it make a sports car-
A big factory in Fremont
This is only the first step.
Now Tesla needs to start producing 500 cars a week, which means it needs a network of suppliers, distribution networks, dealer networks and service networks.
It is difficult to build a new factory and put it into operation.
Michelle Krebs, automotive analyst at Edmunds.
Tell us how GM transformed a factory in Detroit to produce the Chevrolet Volt.
"It's a nightmare," she said . "
"Because the robot is not aiming at the right place, there are robots dumping sealant on the floor, and these small auto-guided vehicles traveling around [the factory] are accepting parts, but I don't know where they are going.
All these are very complicated and difficult things.
"A new image created correctly is just the beginning.
When millions of Americans think of electric cars, they still think of golf carts.
But this may be changing.
Almost everyone who has seen or driven Tesla will become fans.
In addition, Musk hired a man named George brankenshipp a few years ago.
The final performance of Blankeship was to create an Apple retail store for Steve Jobs.
You will feel this when you walk into Tesla's store.
A new store has been opened in Portland, Oregon.
A few weeks ago. It's little.
In an upscale shopping mall.
Touch
The screen on the wall shows that there is only one car inside, but it is full of people --
Not looking.
Mark Goodall moderate his wife Debbie through the shop, touching the car and staring at frunk.
"To be honest, this is beyond my price range," said Mark Goodwin . ".
"But I like the technology and the way it goes.
Blankenship does not hesitate to predict when Tesla will turn people like Mark Goodwin into real customers.
"I believe everyone who comes this weekend will buy a car from us in the next 10 years," Blankenship said . ".
But to fund Tesla's future, Model S needs to be hit: many plastic surgeons and venture investors will have to buy it before Tesla has the cash it needs to make the next car
Really affordable Tesla.
Profit alone is not enough.
But in many ways, Tesla has put the car industry in trouble.
Ten years ago, no big car manufacturer was making electric cars. now, most do.
Tesla makes electric cars cool, and while it may not guarantee success, it may have changed history.
But the question remains: Does Tesla have a future?