It wasn't very long ago that electric cars were considered nothing more than an elaborate joke which would never command equal consideration with gasoline-powered cars.
The Roadster definitely challenged a lot of those assumptions. Tesla proved they could make an electric car people wanted, rather than one they hated but tolerated out of a sense of moral obligation.
I don't think I am - consumer acceptance is a critical part of economic viability. A product which nobody wants to buy isn't a viable alternative, regardless of price point.
To cast some perspective, Nissan has sold about 380k Leafs - the most popular electric car in the world - worldwide over the past 8 years. Tesla has shipped over 160k Model 3s in the US alone over the past 14 months (and currently continues to sell another 20k or so per month).
The vehicle market is huge, and Tesla has by no means conquered it, but they've put a much larger dent in it than any other electric vehicle manufacturer, and have been instrumental in changing public opinion on EVs.
Tesla has made an inconsequential dent in the automotive market. Their cars really don't exist in any statistical sense.
Volkswagen, post diesel fiasco, is best situated to hard-pivot to electric. Nissan is alreday succeeding. Others will follow suit as soon as it's economically viable, and mostly this depends on battery tech improving a little bit more.
The Model 3 accounted for 38% of all EV or hybrid vehicles sold in the US in 2018 and 60% of all BEV vehicles. Tesla's 3 vehicles accounted for over 50% of all EV/hybrid sales, and 82% of all BEV sales in the US in 2018. How you can look at that and conclude that they aren't the leader in that space is beyond me.
I get it, you hold $TSLA and you're hoping it goes to the moon.
The US market is not the world market, and world-wide Tesla is inconsequential. Even in the US it's highly localized, and in those areas it's still inconsequential.
The Model 3 has suffered from ridiculous levels of mismanagement and process problems. They are so far behind on targets it's amazing their entire management team hasn't been sacked and replaced with people who know what they're doing.
One day a company that's competent, like Toyota, will brush Tesla aside without even trying. Until then Tesla has a fraction of a fraction of the sales in the US.
Heh, I have one share of TSLA, and that's just a symbolic statement of my desire to see them succeed in their mission. Guess that makes me a shill. I'll enjoy my 4.3 seconds of retirement on the proceeds. Is this the part where I accuse you of being one of those eeeeevil shorts in response?
The US (well, North American) market comparison is apt because that's the only market that Tesla is manufacturing and selling in in any appreciable quantity right now. It's somewhat difficult to quantify demand response in markets where supply isn't available.
Toyota may well come from behind and eclipse Tesla. I'm not particularly concerned if they do or not, but I do think it's ignorant to look at the EV landscape and not conclude that Tesla has created demand and interest in a market previously marked by tepid apathy. You're arguing global auto markets, I'm talking about impact on consumer sentiment towards EVs. Two totally different discussions (and frankly, a rather clumsy strawman on your part).
The Roadster definitely challenged a lot of those assumptions. Tesla proved they could make an electric car people wanted, rather than one they hated but tolerated out of a sense of moral obligation.