To The Moon

I confess. I am neither a devil or a saint.

Just an “ordinary” folk; living within my own definition of decency that may coincide with most people.

And sometimes differ from others - I suspect.

I subscribe to the notion that we could co-exists even though we may not see eye to eye.

As long as there is the understanding that we could agree to disagree.

It is from this premise that I made my decision with regards to mr musk.

I will not invest in anything as long as there is his presence.

Here is my reason : (my & mine only)

SERIAL LIAR.

Fortune - 22 Dec 2015

• If there is one thing that mr musk is good at; it is “spinning” story after story or lie after lie.

• The first commercially available EV - Tesla model “S” made its debut in 2012.

• In less than 3 years, his first “story” of autonomous driving (AD) surfaced.

• Understandably it did not seem far-fetched back then because he managed to crack the “mystery” surrounding EV and roll out a “working” electric vehicle.

• That was (and I agree) a “big” deal back then. However, the “miracle” stopped there really.

Wired - 19 Oct 2016

• In 2016 : mr musk announced that all Tesla vehicles leaving the factory have all the hardware necessary for Level 5 autonomy, ie. EV could drive themselves without human interventions. He also said that Tesla would demonstrate a fully self-driving coast-to-coast trip by the end of 2017.

• 2017 came and went. [Strike #1]

The Washington Post - 13 Sep 2018

• In 2018 : He admitted that he had missed the deadline for the cross-country trip, but said that Tesla was still working on it and that it would happen in 2018.

• There would be a software update release that would enable full self-driving features for customers who had paid for it.

• 2018 came and went. [Strike #2]

Insider - 01 Feb 2019

• In 2019 : Empty claim surfaced again that Tesla would have one million robotaxis on the road by the end of 2020.

• Touted that Tesla owners would be able to make money by renting out their self-driving cars.

• He also said (again!) that Tesla would achieve Level 5 autonomy by the end of 2019, and that human drivers would be optional by mid-2020.

BBC - 09 Jul 2020

• In 2020: Elon Musk said that Tesla was "very close" to achieving Level 5 autonomy, and that he was confident that it would happen by the end of 2020.

• A beta version of its Full Self Driving (FSD) software would be made available to some customers, and that it would improve rapidly with feedback and data.

• Again 2020 came and went. [Strike #3]

Forbes - 13 Mar 2021

• “Lying” continues

• In 2021: mr musk again claimed that Tesla's FSD tech would have Level 5 autonomy by the end of 2021, and that it would be able to handle all driving scenarios without human intervention.

• Its Beta program would be extended to more customers, and that it would launch a subscription service for FSD.

• The usual 2021 came and went. [Strike #4]

Reuters - 21 Oct 2022

• In 2022: Elon Musk faced criticism and lawsuits from Regulators, Safety advocates, customers and families of crash victims over Tesla's Autopilot and FSD systems, which were involved in several accidents and fatalities.

• He defended Tesla's technology and said that it was safer than human drivers, and that it would continue to improve with more data and software updates. No proof was provided to substantiate. Oops !

The Science Times - 14 Jul 2022

• Tesla’s Head of AI left in Jul 2022.

• Mr musk claimed that its “business as usual”; how could that be ?

• A vision lost is a vision lost. Whatsmore, its that of Tesla chief in command of AI and Tesla’s AD.

• By the time he revealed that Tesla did not get the FSD stamped of approval, it was already Oct 2022.

• Again 2022 came and went. [Strike #5]

RNZ - 28 Feb 2023

• In 2023: mr musk announced that Tesla had finally (??) achieved Level 5 autonomy, and that it had completed a FSD coast-to-coast trip without any human intervention. One insignificant FSD trip and suddenly Tesla EV is AD ready ? A joke !

• He also said that Tesla had one million robotaxis on the road, and that Tesla owners could make money by renting out their self-driving cars.

• He thanked his team and customers for their support and trust, and said that Tesla had fulfilled its promise of bringing the future of driving to the world.

• One quarter of 2023 have whisked by and Tesla’s autonomous level 5 driving is as usual nowhere insight.

• Could this be regarded as Strike #6 ? Ha, ha, ha !

Portrait of a Pathelogical Liar

• Above is a chronological sequence of event dating from 2015 until present day; 7 years in the making (excluding 2023).

• “Pity” those who have been strung along by this man who (to me) is akin to a “cult” leader of sort

• I cannot understand (and won’t waste energy over it) how could a “normal” person be willing to be strung along for so long ?

• At some point in time, shouldn’t one’s faculty of “commonsense” wakes up and takes over and say “enough is enough” ?

• Or could it be that, secretly all those who have been “conned” are secretly wishing that Tesla’s autonomous driving could hopefully became a reality soon.

• Otherwise one would have to face the naked truth that one has been cheated for the past 7 years and counting ?

Autonomous driving - uphill task

My Thoughts On This Fiasco :

• I could understand and appreciate how “complex” and complicated to achieve full autonomous driving (AD)

• After it will be EV versus human-driven cars, compacted into a single environment

• Until the day where every vehicle on the road is equipped with AD feature whereupon EV would be “communicating” with EV electronically to ensure safety distance is adhered to etc… its remains a “jungle” out there

• Also “AD” is not about a single unit of EV navigating a ‘live” environment on the road. Therefore when Tesla laid claims that their EV is level 5 ready - on what basis could it be assumed to be “true” ?

• Both China and Korea have setup an actual “life size” environment for technical companies to test out their AD apps. Is this available in the US for similar testing ? I might be mistakened but don’t think so ?

• Shouldn’t there be some formal body performing the certification ?

• Lastly, don’t know if everyone is aware. So far all that have manifested with regards to Tesla’s AD is purely what mr musk said this & mr musk said that. Where has that got Tesla’s AD capability after 7 years ?

Tesla’s Value Will Diminish Overtime :

• Without “AD” Tesla is just like any other “ordinary” Electric Vehicle; plying the road with a driver behind the wheels.

• More over with increasing quality issue (steering wheel detachment from spoke, crash, shoddy workmanship etc…) is it really “worth” the price tag ? It used to initially…

• With the latest round of “price slashing” of up to 9%, a lot of people have already lost count how much discount Tesla has pushed thru so far. 20% ?

• Assuming you keen about buying a Tesla EV, would you hold off your purchasing knowing that the price might be slashed further down the road ?

• For a buyer who has purchased a Tesla only to find that it has gotten “cheaper” in a matter of days - would you feel like a “sucker”, taken for a ride ? It leaves a “bitter aftertaste” doesn’t it ?

• Competing EV makers are producing better quality and finishing EVs and introducing “newer” models with better technical configurations - isn’t that more enticing ?

Tesla Share Price Will NOT Be Where It Used To Be

• The timings of the 2 stock split were undertaken at the “right place” and the “right time”

• Do recall, the US market was awashed with “excessive” liquidity during Tesla first 5-for-1 stock split in Aug 2020 (interest rate was almost zero).

• US market back in 2020 was “insane”. Any stock purchased will yield profit, only question is how much ?

• When the 2nd stock split came around in Mar 2022, the Fed has only started with the 1st of what was eventually 7 interest hikes. At 0.25%, it did not create concern.

• Tesla’s stock price began to fall whenever it failed to meet Wall Street EV delivery expectations.

• Why do you think Tesla is so determined to meet Wall Street’s delivery expectation at the expense of profit margin that used to be the “main attraction”.

• Telsa has slashed its EV prices by up to 20% ? CEO is “desperate” to please ?

US EV market share by different EV Makers

• Stiff competition from incumbent ICE maker (eg. $General Motors(GM)$) and new entrants ( $NIO Inc.(NIO)$) that are producing equally sleek EV or some said “even better” ones - will be “chipping” away at the EV pie; little by little. {Refer to above diagram on Tesla’s gradual EV decline}

• The longer this drags on, the more obvious it would become.

• Tesla’s existing EV models are “old” & “tired”. With no new models out… Doesn’t bode well for an EV maker.

• In China, Tesla is not the leader of the EV pack. $BYD COMPANY(01211)$ is.

• In the US EV market, Hyundai IONIQ 6 has just been named 2023 Car of the Year and it is the “most” popular EV in the US already.

• The latest, mr musk has (again!) a found distraction (refer to new AI company).

• His short attention span have kept him moving from one company to another. He already has a few under his belt, all not doing well except for Tesla (not founded by him) and SpaceX (heavily subsidised by US govt that ensured survivability ?).

• A while back, he was “bored” and “thrilled” by the fun-prospect of owning Twitter (in the name of freedom of speech).

• Looked at where has that got Tesla and him.

• Now, a new AI venture all because he wasn’t welcomed to be the CEO of OpenAi in its early years and ChatGPT has become the toast of the town; not Tesla anymore. Boo hoo hoo !

A fitting analogy that best sums up this engima - “He is not a candy shop owner. Rather the spoilt brat who wanted all the candies in the candy shop; regardless of whether it would cause him diarrhoea or indigestion”; judging by his track record.

• When US economy slipped into “mild recession” in H2 2023; as concurred by many analysts - Tesla share price may slipped once again testing its 3 Jan 2023 “low”. (refer to below diagram).

When that day arrives, what story do you think Tesla, CEO will spin next time round ? LOL !!

Tesla - Fri, 14 Apr 2023 closing price

You will not find another story teller like him; where the fine line bordering truth and lies have effectively been blurred by the antics of one mortal soul; albeit one that is lacking in moral responsibility.

To think I have not even touched on his Twitter’s antics. Whahahah !

• Do you agree with the facts laid out that Tesla’s AD is a lie by CEO owner ?

• Do you also think that Tesla’s share price may never break the $200 resistant price level ?

Please give a “LIKe” for this post ok. Thanks. Your rating is very important to me !

Alternatively do consider “Follow me” so that you get first hand read of my daily new posts. Thanks thanks !

@TigerEvents

@TigerPM

@Tiger_SG

@CaptainTiger