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| Elon Musk, Visionary And Wonder-Boy? |
An example of how deep these subsidies feedback into the numbers is that Tesla collected more than $517 million from competing automakers by selling environmental credits. In a regulatory system pioneered by California and adopted by nine other states, automakers must buy the credits if they fail to sell enough zero-emissions cars to meet mandates. I have written several articles about Tesla and Musk over the years but as I continued my research for this update and a more in-depth piece my eyes literally began to glaze over at the magnitude of the subsidies. Government support is a theme of all three of these companies, and without it, none of them would exist. Then comes the issue of corporate incest, in August of 2016 Tesla formally announced it would be acquiring ailing SolarCity in an all-stock $2.6 billion merger. At the time Musk owned 22% of SolarCity which was founded by his cousins. The merger was promoted on the idea that Tesla's mission since its inception was part of Elon Musk's overall "Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan" to expedite the world's transition to sustainable energy and away from a fossil fuel economy. Musk called the merger a no-brainer and said it was an accident of history that Tesla and SolarCity were ever separate companies.
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| Only About 1 In 5,000 Cars Is A Tesla! |
The value of Tesla's stock dramatically changed years ago following the report where it made its first quarterly profit, its market value soared to more than $10 billion. It should be noted a large part of the increase in the stock price occurred when people that had short positions in the stock were caught in a short squeeze and forced to buy back their stock. At the time Musk said, “I thought it would be quite difficult to raise the capital for Tesla.” he went on to state his realization the electric-car maker could retire its U.S. loan nine years early didn’t arise until Tesla shares unexpectedly surged. Since that time Tesla's fortunes have moved in lockstep with a surging stock market. In an upbeat article just published by Inside EVs, it was pointed out that Ford stock has fallen 23 percent from 2015-2017 and now sits at $12.65 per share. Tesla stock is on the rise, approaching an all-time high, at about $281 right now. This accounts for a market share of $43 billion for the electric startup, compared to Ford’s $49 billion.
Tesla currently has a market cap that is 88% of Ford its much large competitor. It is important to note that in January 2016, Ford Motor sold 173,723 vehicles in January 2016 while Tesla made a little over 80,000 cars in all of last year and has sold only about 191,000 vehicles to date. Ford built over 6.5 million vehicles in just the last year alone. As for Tesla's stock which continues trading at incredibly high multiples, much of that can be contributed to the historically low-interest rates and the luck of being in the "QE moment" rather than the company's financial success. Bears and those that doubted if the company could hold together ironically have pushed up the stock adding to the image that Musk lives a charmed life. Remember the company had received a huge government low-interest loan to kick start its existence, also note that it has no legacy cost or issues that plagued so many of its competitors. Now thanks to the gobs of money looking for any kind of return, Tesla can borrow cheaply. Like several other high flyers lead by self-promoters and propelled forward by media hype Tesla has been on a roll.
While it has not received the attention Tesla has garnered it should be noted that most automakers have placed fuel cell electric vehicles with customers, and many plan to introduce a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle better known as an FCEV to the early commercial market over the next year or so. By 2020, automakers expect to place tens of thousands of fuel cell electric vehicles in the hands of California consumers. Among the automakers which are trying to bring this technology closer to customers are Honda, Toyota and Hyundai Fuel cells could derail Tesla's vision of a world where its battery-powered vehicles fill our roadways. Currently, lithium-ion battery technology powers Tesla’s electric vehicles. It could be argued that Tesla could do a "switch-a-roo" and simply change out its power source from battery power to fuel cells. Adoption of the fuel cell as the most desirable way to power not only vehicles but other power hungry devices would be a big setback for Tesla because the company has invested a huge five billion dollars in a new battery factory. If fuel cells rule the day this would spell big problems for Tesla.
It does not take much research to see public subsidies for Musk’s companies stand out both for the amount, relative to the size of the companies, and for their dependence on them. No effort has been spared to spin Tesla and Elon Musk as a finished success, of course, the "proof will be in the pudding" when we look back years from now. Time will most likely determine whether Musk is viewed as an unabashed promoter or a serious visionary. Using government programs and loans as well as money from investors Musk has built a pulpit from which to position himself for praise and at times ridicule. David Stockman wrote in May of 2015, In a world saturated with excess automotive capacity and dominated by some of the most formidable engineering, manufacturing and marketing organizations on the planet—Toyota, BMW and Ford, to name just three–There is no way that an amateurish circus barker like Elon Musk will ever make a profit selling electric vanity cars to the 1%. Stockman went on to state, You might describe Tesla as $30 billion of capitalized hopium, but that would be too generous. In an honest free market, Tesla would have long ago been carted off to the chapter 11 junk shredder.
Tesla enters 2017 with the goal to launch a new car, open a large battery factory, and perfect autonomous driving. When all the hoopla ends, the question is whether larger competitors will simply overwhelm and crush Tesla, or will Tesla instead position itself to grow and maybe take over a competitor to help propel it forward. Remember this is a field where many have failed, one great example was the Delorean. I have become predisposed to discount, and have actually grown a massive aversion to "media hype", this is one reason you should color me skeptical. The city where I live, like other cities across the world, have a long list of bold men herald and declared to be "gods gift to business," many in the end flew too close to the sun only to crash and burn. In any case, what has happened at Tesla Motors and to Elon Musk's other ventures up until this point might be enhancing the meaning of the phrase, "I would rather be lucky than good!"
Footnote; Another company that was not so lucky and saw its fortunes fall was Fisker Automotive, for more on this folly read the post below. Other related articles may be found in my blog archive, thanks for reading, your comments are encouraged,
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2013/04/fisker-automotive-another-government.html
When the governments subsidies go away, so will Musk. The only possible survivor will be Space-X and some aerospace giant will get it for pennies on the dollar.
ReplyDeleteGovernment needs to stay out of business. They are complete booger-eating-morons when it comes to backing businesses that have a snow-balls chance of success. Spurring innovation through research is one thing but the business model for an idea must be made by the marketplace, not bureaucrats who have never worked in the business world a day in their life.
and so PayPal wasn't a (commercial) success ?
DeleteI don't think fuel cell is a substitute for electric. It wasn't in the 1970's when it was pushed (maybe that was 80's) and it isn't now. Fuel cells are bottled hydrogen.
ReplyDeleteThe Hindenberg used hydrogen.
What is important is that many big players are looking at fuel cells as the next big thing.
DeleteSo far the roll-out on the model 3 is far behind schedule and for any other auto company that would be a disaster. Do not rule out the possibility that once the aura surrounding Tesla leaves, reality may wash over those so eagerly awaiting their new toys. If the actual Model 3 fails to tantalize buyers or leaves them underwhelmed it could be all over. More on this subject in the article below.
ReplyDeletehttp://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2017/05/owning-tesla-could-suddenly-become.html