Preparation for Mass Production of Tesla Vehicles

 
Cities along the east coast are probably already crossing their fingers and trying to have Musk notice them because of what it will mean for the local economy. Not only will there be a plethora of manufacturing jobs opening, but also a turning point in production overall for Tesla. According to production growth, Tesla has seen a significant increase with the Model 3 EV that targets the mass market as one of the relatively cheaper Tesla models. With the similarly affordable Model Y entering the market in the near future, the company will have more than enough work cut out for production companies.

Tesla’s Current Production Facilities

 
The new Gigafactory will be Tesla’s fifth worldwide joining Nevada and Buffalo in America, Shanghai, and plans for one that will be built around Berlin. American Teslas such as the Model 3, Model S sedans, and Model X vehicles are currently produced in the Fremont, California production facility and will continue to be produced there after developing the new factory, which does not hold a “Gigafactory” title. In Nevada, the facility stretches almost 2 million square feet and produces battery packs and electric motors for Model 3 vehicles. Whereas, New York’s Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo produces solar cells and modules.

Elon Musk long had his eye on a Chinese location to enter the lucrative market and built a factory in Shanghai that made its first shipments this January. The German factory will be producing Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for the European market. Once he chooses the right location in the east coast as a standalone production facility for the Model Y, Tesla will be mass producing in five different locations around the world hitting the North American, European, and Asian markets.

The Tesla Cybertruck

 
That leaves find a location in truck country for the Cybertruck Gigafactory. The innovative and futuristic-like electric pickup truck will fit perfectly in central USA. Musk expects a high demand for the Cybertruck and believes that Tesla will sell as many of them as it can make, but also expects that production won’t begin until 2021. Until then, Musk will be on the search for the location that has the best of available incentives, costs, and suitability of the local work force with more weight on the costs and local workforce. He has hinted his interest in Tennessee where Volkswagen has invested $800 million to expand its factory.

A genuine Tesla car was purchased with the software that enables certain features like autopilot, but during the transaction, Tesla took the nonsensical action by remotely disabling it.
 

Tesla Software

 
It can be hard to wrap your head around the idea of car software, so to explain, think of the iPhone. Every time there’s a new iPhone model released, a new OS is also released. Then the performance of older models “mysteriously” decline. This mystery was solved when it was revealed that it’s Apple’s intention to outdate older models to encourage people to buy the newest, more expensive model. 

Now, imagine that you buy an iPhone XR from someone who bought it from the Apple Store that has the capability for facial recognition, but it doesn’t work on your phone. After some communication with Apple, you discover that your feature is gone because the company claims that you hadn’t paid for it so the company remotely disabled it. To get the feature back, you have to pay an additional $200 fee. A bit ridiculous, correct? 

For a more literal idea, it’s as if you purchased a car with new rims and the dealership sends people to your home to physically remove them because you “never paid for it,” which would be a problem.

Similarly, Tesla vehicles work like smartphones and other smart devices, which are compatible to support updates. And when someone experienced the hypothetical iPhone situation above, but with a Tesla, it opened a can of worms that revealed Tesla’s power that the company exerts to control their vehicles from anywhere. 
 

Alternative Solutions for Tesla Software Problems

 
This practice is nothing new for Tesla, former employees state. But when somebody complains, the company usually enables the feature to avoid bad publicity. When a Tesla is damaged, all warranties are voided and repairs can cost an inordinate amount of money – even more than what the original car was worth new. However, there are ways to get around this confusing practice including finding someone who can enable the software through jailbreaking. But with independent Tesla repair professionals like Phil Sadow, cars can be repaired and have their software turned back on.

Tesla has made no public comment on the issue and continues to stay quiet. In a game of cat and mouse, Tesla continues to change the software and private repairmen find out how to get it. It leaves owners out on a limb since jailbreaking nulls warranties, but official repairs are an unreasonable expense. Hopefully, Elon Musk doesn’t sweep the issue under the rug and responds to his company’s practices soon.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had done a good job getting word out about the Cybertruck. Even though the Cybertruck isn’t expected to start production until late 2021, 44 percent of people surveyed knew about the Cybertruck, while another one-fourth of those approached for the survey had never seen it, but were aware of it.

The numbers are in and this is what those people had to say:
 

Some Were Uninterested or Weren’t Sure How They Felt About It

 
27 percent of respondents were simply uninterested. 16 percent weren’t sure what to think, while another 11 percent laughed it off, possibly thinking that it was ridiculous.

44 percent didn’t like it at all.
 

Here’s What They Didn’t Like

 
12% of people saw it as a rich person’s play thing.

11% didn’t see the need for a bulletproof truck.

11% couldn’t relate to the use case for the truck.

10% felt Tesla’s focus should be on bringing down the cost of electric vehicles rather than work on another design.

It would seem that those who didn’t like the truck felt that it was an indulgence. It is touted as having the utility of a truck, but the performance of a sports car, which seems unnecessary. Either you want a working truck or you want a sports car.

Consumers need more substance than design. The futuristic design of the Cybertruck did not seem to enhance performance in any way, and society hasn’t gotten to the point where bulletproofing is desired in a vehicle. Yet.

Tesla isn’t the only automaker to manufacture electric pickups. Ford is developing an electric F-150 and Bolling Motors has introduced an all-wheel-drive B2 pickup, while startup Rivian is also developing an electric pickup and is backed by Ford and Amazon.

These might appeal more to those who like their pickups more conventional, and would also be more likely to bring the price of electric vehicles down, which is what people want.
 

Here’s What They Did Like

 
Right from the start, Elon Musk had promoted the Cybertruck well, and there was a lot of interest way in advance of production.

250,000 people have reserved their vehicle in advance, though this figure is subject to some uncertainty. The down payment to reserve a vehicle was $100, which doesn’t constitute a huge investment. In addition, it is refundable. And the two-year lead time until production will surely result in some attrition.

29% reacted positively to the Cybertruck.

One in five felt the unconventional design was “cool” and “futuristic”. 9% went so far as to say it would “usher in a new era” of design for automobiles.

There were those who didn’t like the design for a pickup truck, but would consider it for a smaller vehicle.

There is still time to attract additional pre-orders, and who knows what can happen before 2021!

He went on further to describe the armored truck to be bulletproof and claimed that it won a tug-of-war against a Ford F-150 and a drag race against a Porsche 11. But when he went to show the strength of the “shatterproof” glass by throwing a metal ball at it, the glass shattered. Musk quickly came back from the failed test by saying that the glass will definitely be up to par when the trucks enter the market around late 2021.
 

Hardly a New Idea

 
Elon Musk has toyed with the idea of creating his futuristic electric truck since 2012 in a tweet and then again in 2013 when he announced Tesla’s plans during a Business Insider interview. The Tesla Truck’s unveiling was the realization of his idea.

There are three different versions of the Tesla Truck that will be available:

• At $39 900: the single motor rear-wheel drive with 250 miles of range, 7,500-pound towing capacity, and 0–60 mph capabilities in under 6.5 seconds

• At $49 900: the dual motor all-wheel drive with 300 miles of range, 10,000-pound towing capacity, and 0–60 mph in under 4.5 seconds
• At $69 900 (and at a later date in 2022 than the other versions): the triple motor all-wheel drive with 500 miles of range, 14,000-pound towing capacity, and 0–60 mph in under 2.9 seconds

The Competition in the Electric Truck Market

 
As Tesla’s first electric pick-up truck, Tesla sets the bar for the industry as Ford and GM loyalists eagerly await to compare the giants of the truck industry and their versions of the electric truck. According to Itay Michaeli, a traditional car analyst, Ford has more to lose over GM as the larger manufacturer and with most of its profits coming from truck sales.

But it is still too early to say that how much impact the Cybertruck will have on either company. Ford has its own electric truck in the works to be released in the close future and an investment in the startup company, EV, and the Rivian, which will be released into the market earlier than the Cybertruck. GM on the other hand, also confirmed that it too will release their own electric truck in late 2021/early 2022.

Although the Cybertruck unveiling had a sledgehammer and a metal ball, it might have to compete with an already existing market of electric trucks once it comes out – something that Tesla products don’t usually have to consider. It is also important to consider the other players in the industry, the truck part suppliers. Amongst all this competition, suppliers will also increase their company values.

If you are on the fence about making the switch, here is a list of the top reasons to go hybrid that will have you speeding to the dealership.

Save Money

Hybrids are designed with fuel efficiency in mind. As they only use gasoline part of the time, they help you save when gas prices are consistently rising. To increase fuel efficiency, hybrids are usually smaller than their counterparts, and they have a smaller engine. Less fuel is needed to move them as they are also made from much lighter materials and have tires that reduce friction. They save you gas while idling too by switching the engine off until you press the gas again.

Ingenuity really comes in though with the electric motor that regenerates electricity using the gasoline engine or when you brake, so electricity production is always happening internally, fueling the car’s battery.

Hybrids also keep their value over time unlike standard fuel cars, so investing in the slightly higher buying price will pay off in the end.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Hybrid cars were created with the intention of reducing environmental impact, and it is still one of the major reasons to buy one today. The mixture of gasoline and electricity as fuel, as well as their better mileage, means hybrids release less carbon dioxide into the air than standard cars. In addition, while a standard fuel car needs its oil changed about every 3000 miles, hybrids only need theirs changed every 5000-6000 miles.

Peace and Quiet

With a hybrid car you will enjoy the peace and quiet that is unheard of with fuel-guzzling cars. This is due to the fact that the gas engine is not used nearly as much in a hybrid.

In fact, they are so quiet the U.S. government created a law that hybrids must make at least some noise. A study was performed in which people were blindfolded and asked to say when they heard a car approaching. For a gas-engine car, they often heard it when it was 36 feet away. For a hybrid, they didn’t hear it until it was 11 feet away, even closer when the car was driving slowly.

Sustainability

Hybrids don’t use their engines as much as fuel-burning cars, causing less wear on the engine and less heat production to degrade other parts of the car. As such, they do not wear down as quickly and require less frequent repairs.

There are a few parts that do wear down, but they do so at a much slower rate, and even cars that have run over 200,000 miles have been known to run as smoothly as when they were first bought. As for the battery, they are most often very high-quality and last the life of the car, if not longer.

1. Responding to Today’s Digital Trend

Today, more than ever, consumers of every kind of product are becoming increasingly tech-savvy. This fact no longer merely applies to younger generations, today people of all ages understand the value and convenience offered by digital services. This means that your customers are already expecting advanced electronic capabilities to be available from your website and from your dealership in general.

The increasingly common desire among the public for online consumer software is no longer merely about novelty and convenience – digital services have dramatically changed the way that sales work and they are becoming more and more vital to how businesses everywhere are conducted.

By integrating text messaging into your existing offerings, you’ll be responding to a vital part of consumer demand that can mean the difference between developing customer loyalty and losing the same people to your competition.

2. Nonstop Service

By now you probably already understand the enormous value of providing your online customers with 24/7 online chat help software along with how powerful a tool that online chat can be for developing leads. Text messaging can work in a similar way, with the added benefit of connecting customers directly to your sales team for more specific questions relating to a deal that is already well into development.

Offering many ways for customers to get in touch is more important today than ever. The latest data shows that the vast majority – up to 82% of all consumers – already expect to have their questions answered immediately. This is just another indication that the way sales are conducted is changing rapidly due to technology and that you’d better be ready.

3. Keeping the Conversation Going

When customers are able to connect directly to your sales team, they get to see their sale continue to develop in real time. There’s no better way today to build the kind of customer loyalty that has always carried repeat business between auto buyers and dealerships. Additionally, members of your sales team will be able to present special offers to their customers as soon as they are approved.

Let’s face it, there are a thousand things that can interrupt a sales conversation or distract a customer. Just to name a few:

• The Customer Loses Interest
• The Store is Closing
• Customers Want to Do More Research on Their Own

When you give your potential sale the time to allow a client to be distracted, then the chances increase dramatically that they’ll go find another deal elsewhere.

Dealerships everywhere are learning the advantages of offering online services to their customers. Contact a digital marketing solutions expert today to learn how to integrate text messaging into your strategy and get a boost above the rest.

People have different needs, budgets and preferences in what they’re looking for in a vehicle, so it’s essential to know as much raw data as possible. Buying any vehicle is always a negotiation between preferences in style, the purpose the vehicle fulfills, and your budget. Then, weigh these considerations against as much raw data as possible.

Here is the breakdown of a vehicle comparison: Infiniti QX30 vs Lincoln MKC 2019 that will give you a good picture of how these two small but excellent SUVs stack up to each other.

Lincoln MKC 2019

The Lincoln MKC 2019 is also a premium crossover SUV, which comes available in a 285-horsepower 2.3L twin-scroll turbocharged engine that delivers 305 lb-ft of torque. Based on the Ford Escape, it’s been designed with driver comfort in mind.

It also boasts a range of modern safety features, such as smart All Wheel Drive. Sensors constantly monitor traction, balancing torque between the rear and front wheels to improve handling and maximize traction. This feature typically comes into effect before the wheels can even manage to slip.

It also has an electronic stability system for additional control during slick conditions, such as snow, rain or even gravel. Roll Stability Control uses gyroscopic sensors to monitor the roll rate over 100 times per second. This help ready the brakes to ensure all wheels can make a fully controlled stop. The Lincoln MKC 2019 promises style and safety, no matter what the road conditions.

Infiniti QX30

The Infiniti QX30 is a small crossover 5-door SUV, produced by Nissan’s luxury brand, Infiniti. The vehicle’s sheet metal is trademark Infiniti style, but the platform and Powertrain are actually by Mercedez-Benz, particularly their CLA- and GLA-class.

Like those cars, the Infiniti QX30 boasts a 208-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed automatic transmission. It’s available in all-wheel drive. The styling is what you’d find in a concept car, so it truly is a unique looking vehicle.

It comes with four different trim options. The interior is stylish: Infiniti combines its own premium materials with that of Mercedes-Benz. Key safety features available include forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitor and parking assist.

With its super low centre of gravity, the sporty models have real zip you’ll love when it hugs those turns. However, the QX30 is set to be discontinued in 2019, but its essence will live on in the QX50. Used models present a way to get a great deal on a car you’ll love driving for years down the road.

If you’re in the market for a vehicle, research is essential. But nothing replaces the feeling of actually driving. Visit your local dealership today to get beyond the words and get behind the wheel. You’ll probably never have more fun shopping than when getting behind the wheel of an Infiniti or a Lincoln.

But once you’ve decided what car you’re going to buy, you still need to decide where to buy it from. At this point, it helps to know what things to look for in a car dealership. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when deciding from where to buy your next vehicle.

Full-Service Available

It’s very convenient if the dealership where you buy your vehicle also does financing and repairs. This gives you a connection to an all-in-one, full-service car centre that can handle all your needs.

The auto mechanics should be experienced and certified specialists in repairing vehicles produced by the manufacturers that the dealership sells. For example, if you purchased a Ford F-150 this winter, you can spring for a tune up this season by stopping in at the Ford dealer who sold you the truck in the first place. They’ll have all original Ford parts, too.

It’s comforting to have an established relationship with the mechanic you entrust to fixing your vehicle, and purchasing a vehicle from a dealership is a great way to form a connection. Make sure you can get your vehicle serviced where you buy it.

Wide Stock for Sale

The dealership you frequent should have a wide selection of new and used vehicles on the lot. There should be a few different models available in the vehicle you’re considering buying, but also in adjacent models.

If the dealership sells luxury SUV crossovers, it’s not enough to stock the Lincoln MKC and the Nautilus. There should also be comparable models from other manufacturers, like the Cadillac XT4, XT5, XT6 and the Escalade.

While many dealerships are able to order vehicles they don’t keep in their regular inventory, it is better if you’re able to test drive or at least see multiple vehicles in the same visit, and don’t have to wait days for the vehicle to arrive at the dealership.

Family-Owned and Operated

Purchasing a vehicle is always a big investment, one that can be stressful. One good way to help ensure you get helpful, friendly service is to patronize a dealership that’s been family-owned and operated for years.

The salespeople shouldn’t ever pressure you. Choosing a family-owned dealership is the best path to finding committed salespeople who will make your experience pleasant.

Vehicles are substantial financial investments, and they play a large role in your day-to-day life. You want to feel confident that the vehicle you purchased will meet your needs for years down the road, that you got a good price on it, and that you have access to fair and reliable maintenance services in the future. If you want to get all this and friendly service too, a family-owned and operated dealership is your best bet.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why so many people love the 2019 Mazda3.

Sporty Handling

The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback both feature surprisingly sporty handling. All Mazdas are designed with the spirit known as “Jinba ittai,” a Japanese phrase equivalent to “horse and rider as one,” and the Mazda3 embodies this philosophy as much as any car. You’ll love the way it cruises on turns, plus the way it passes trucks on the highway.

The new 2019 Mazda3 includes Mazda’s famous Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, which means it’s the most responsive Mazda3 yet. This year features a particularly evolved form of Skyactiv technology, which results in the quietest cabin Mazda has ever offered. Unnecessary noise and vibration has been dramatically reduced, which will inspire a calm, tranquil feeling when you’re behind the wheel. It’s hard to summarize in a short space, so read this passionate car blog by real auto enthusiasts to get more information.

Safety Features

The new 2019 Mazda3 has an available i-Activ All Wheel Drive system that brings transformative modern safety technology to a historically beloved car.

This technology essentially gives each car its own set of eyes and cat-like reflexes which keeps it safe. Scanners in the car check the road 200 times a second to assess the road condition, and the car itself can respond accordingly based on this assessment. For example, if the cameras detect that the road is icy or rainy, the car will automatically add extra torque to the back wheels as needed to prevent slipping.

Perfect Vehicle for Cities and Getaways

Both the Mazda3 Sedan and Hatchback were designed to be the perfect cars for both urban environments, and for road trips. They are both relatively compact enough to park downtown easily and navigate dense traffic smoothly.

Yet they both have considerable storage capacity for when you need to get out of town, especially the 5-Door Hatchback. Plus its safety features don’t only benefit those in the car, but those outside it.

The Smart Brake City Support can detect objects ahead at low speeds. It readies the brakes, anticipating the driver will want to stop. If no driver action is taken then the car stops on its own. This is useful for stop-and-go traffic common to cities.  The car also has blind spot monitoring, where a light will appear in your side view mirror if it detects that a car is in your left or right blind spot.

Sometimes, updating a beloved model of the car carries the risk that the changes won’t be perceived as improvements by fans of the old model. Thankfully, that was not at all the case with the 2019 Mazda3! Mazda was careful to only make changes that people were sure to love. As a result, fans of the old Mazda3 already love the 2019 model even more.

Right now you might be saying, well, you can’t afford a nice, new car – who has the money for that? But no one says you have to own the car – leasing remains an accessible and affordable option that allows you to get a better car at a lower price point; that Lamborghini might be way out of your price range to buy, but see what an exotic car dealership can do in terms of leasing. You might be surprised.

Still unconvinced? Read these three compelling reasons to upgrade to a nicer car.

1. A Safer Experience

Safety should be an important consideration for any driver. If you have a family, it’s of even more significance. To that end, perhaps the most compelling reason to sell your old car and get a better one is that it’s probably going to be safer. Not only has road safety technology advanced leaps and bound even in the past few years, but also, older cars with high mileage and maintenance issues pose a greater risk for accidents.

2. Drive for the Job You Want, Not the One You Have

Research has shown that the way you present yourself when you go to work does in fact have a significant bearing on the opportunities presented to you. In other words, if you project class and sophistication, expect to be treated as such. Driving a clunker to work every day, while it might make sense functionally, doesn’t do much for your image, and may even subtly give higher-ups the impression that you are unmotivated. Drive the car that conveys what kind of person you want to be.

3. Stay Up-to-Date With Advancing Technology

Finally, newer cars are just more fun. Cars get more fun every year, in fact, as new advancements are made in infotainment. You get a better sound system, a nicer climate control system, integrated apps, safety technologies and about a thousand other bells and whistles that luxury car manufacturers have dreamed up. If you’re someone who dreads their weekday commute, it might be because of a lack of infotainment options in your vehicle.

For the sake of safety, appearance and fun, perhaps it’s time to retire your old vehicle and introduce a newer, better one. By switching up the way you finance your car, you can ensure that the decision doesn’t disrupt you too much financially, and give you greater choice as to the quality of the car. What are you waiting for? Stop stalling in the past, and start driving into the future.