Brad, agree with one possible small twist/addition to your theory: what if Musk understood his customer and the car buying demographics. Let's assume he's wrapped up the primary target market for luxury EV cars. He most likely has pricing leverage vs competitors, and he's launching a truck. Where are his new customers going to come from? Remember when MAGA crowd was blocking access to EV stations? Remember when they were keying Teslas? Strong possibility he knows if he can curry favor with the 50% of this country who previously hated him, he can compete on price, and he's got pickup trucks to sell, MAGA is the most lucrative market for Tesla the next 10 years. AND, by nature of the way in which he's doing it, he jumps from last to first place with this crowd. Before the shtick, 0% chance they're ever buying a Tesla EV. Now, I'd say Tesla would he their #1 choice. Not to mention, at the moment, he's got 0% penetration so if they start buying, he wins and becomes even wealthier.
Shawn, first... thank you for reading and commenting! I'd be honored if you subscribed to the Substack. Second, that's a fascinating take on this as a P.O.E.M./marketing ploy... and one that's even more cynical/admiring of Musk as a marketer than my column. That's a compliment, btw. Bravo! I just looked up the possible cost of the Cybertruck, and it's high for a truck but low for a Tesla. I suspect the relatively low cost PLUS 500 mile range PLUS the "you don't have to pay for gas" EV part will be compelling, but you're right that that presupposes a pickup driver who won't immediately associate Musk with the left. Your take on the MAGA-leaning crowd interpreting Musk's Twitter bid as evidence that he's not a lefty is compelling. Thank you.
Brad, agree with one possible small twist/addition to your theory: what if Musk understood his customer and the car buying demographics. Let's assume he's wrapped up the primary target market for luxury EV cars. He most likely has pricing leverage vs competitors, and he's launching a truck. Where are his new customers going to come from? Remember when MAGA crowd was blocking access to EV stations? Remember when they were keying Teslas? Strong possibility he knows if he can curry favor with the 50% of this country who previously hated him, he can compete on price, and he's got pickup trucks to sell, MAGA is the most lucrative market for Tesla the next 10 years. AND, by nature of the way in which he's doing it, he jumps from last to first place with this crowd. Before the shtick, 0% chance they're ever buying a Tesla EV. Now, I'd say Tesla would he their #1 choice. Not to mention, at the moment, he's got 0% penetration so if they start buying, he wins and becomes even wealthier.
Shawn, first... thank you for reading and commenting! I'd be honored if you subscribed to the Substack. Second, that's a fascinating take on this as a P.O.E.M./marketing ploy... and one that's even more cynical/admiring of Musk as a marketer than my column. That's a compliment, btw. Bravo! I just looked up the possible cost of the Cybertruck, and it's high for a truck but low for a Tesla. I suspect the relatively low cost PLUS 500 mile range PLUS the "you don't have to pay for gas" EV part will be compelling, but you're right that that presupposes a pickup driver who won't immediately associate Musk with the left. Your take on the MAGA-leaning crowd interpreting Musk's Twitter bid as evidence that he's not a lefty is compelling. Thank you.