Audi CEO Says Telsa Is Two YEARS Ahead Of Everyone Else

Audi’s new CEO willingly admits that Tesla is two years ahead of the industry in some critical areas of building electric vehicles

Markus Duesmann, Audi’s new CEO, has been focusing on electric vehicles and he is taking inspiration from market leader Tesla.

The CEO recently said that he believes Tesla has a two years on the rest of the industry (via Reuters):

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MDarringer - 7/28/2020 11:58:18 AM

-4 Boost

If that's true, and given VWAG's engineering might, in two years they should be able to put Tesla 5 years behind the time.

Enough of the bullshittery, Audi. Get off your asses and measure the hell up.

Car4life1 - 7/28/2020 12:09:14 PM

+2 Boost

VWAG’s “engineering might” wasn’t so mighty with the Taycan...Tesla exposes an under served market, executed properly, and is reaping benefits of the first company to take EV buyers seriously.

Once they get their quality, operating margins, and vehicle lifecycles in order, Tesla will be nothing to play with and are already well on their way.

MDarringer - 7/28/2020 12:11:40 PM

-4 Boost

Dream on Felicia.

Car4life1 - 7/28/2020 3:35:46 PM

+2 Boost

Watch and learn sport

MDarringer - 7/28/2020 5:31:34 PM

-1 Boost

Elon will sell Tesla. That's been his plan from the get go.

SanJoseDriver - 7/28/2020 11:33:35 PM

+2 Boost

The opposite is true, he was willing to go down with the ship if needed. I don't think he will ever sell his stake unless it is to fund Mars exploration.

dlin - 7/28/2020 12:12:50 PM

+3 Boost

Only 2? Someone said a lot...

MDarringer - 7/28/2020 12:22:51 PM

-2 Boost

Let's take him at face value. If 2 is the right number, that gap can be closed in a heartbeat.

But at the same time, let's not overestimate Tesla they have no technology that everyone else doesn't have too.

mre30 - 7/28/2020 12:55:39 PM

+1 Boost

The EV segment is still not a segment that can consistently turn a profit without government subsidies (and might not be profitable even WITH subsidies).

Tesla is 'technically' profitable for a few quarters but it has a lot of CAPEX ahead of it with the new Austin plant and uncertain demand, so it will likely quickly revert to NOT being profitable again.

Sure Amazon.com was not profitable for much of its history, BUT Amazon has a positive working capital cycle (i.e. customers pay Amazon immediately but Amazon does not have to pay vendors, etc for 60 to 120 days - so it always has cash flow).

Tesla does not have positive cash flow from operations.

Its all about cash flow. Unless something drastically changes, Tesla will always need a "Sugar Daddy" (retail stock investors, venture $$, private $$ etc) in order to keep operating and that is a very fragile spot to be in.

SanJoseDriver - 7/28/2020 11:35:52 PM

+2 Boost

They did have positive cash flow from operations last quarter, $327M.

runninglogan1 - 7/28/2020 3:03:46 PM

+3 Boost

Other automaker's hopes of catching up to Tesla will be blown up on September 22nd.

SanJoseDriver - 7/28/2020 11:38:58 PM

+2 Boost

If anyone else will be at the investor event, let me know! Would be great to meet up. I'm hoping to get into the battery event as well.

MrEE - 7/28/2020 8:08:44 PM

+3 Boost

2 years is optimistic and unfortunately growing, not closing.

SanJoseDriver - 7/28/2020 11:39:55 PM

0 Boost

Explains why Elon said today they would be willing to sell powertrains and license software to competitors.

ctsang - 7/29/2020 3:17:51 PM

+2 Boost

more than 2 years ahead