[lemetier]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

But the industry is already in the game and developing more sustainable alternatives than just electric or plug-in hybrid which is not just about range but also performance.
I do not think it will wipe out the German auto industry as badge prestige remains a primary option for our and everybody else's customers globally.

The Tesla threat? Well if BMW had a 3er that attracted 400,000 units for pre sale then the factory would be expanded to make way for expansion on production or a new plant built and ready to deliver the car on schedule. Both i3 and i8 reached the market on schedule and that involved building a new plant to manufacture CFRP as well as a completely new production line at Leipzig all due thanks to massive investment from BMW.

Both recent Tesla models have been affected by delays. And with the production units expected in late 2017 but again could be possibly delayed by that time there will be direct competitors and many customers will have probably dropped out from the list either due to another product or price adjustments?

Where Tesla will do damage will be with the volume domestic manufacturers.

Which either way whoever wins the battle? The American taxpayer will still be paying for it.

I agree the "Tesla Threat" is imaginary overall. They have and will continue to exert some impact for the mid range, but the only real Tesla Threat is the one they have hooked themselves onto, that being the retail structure. They don't have a conquest plan that supports sustainable growth outside of what are still early adopters and novelty buyers. They've courted me twice in the past 7 years for a significant position at the company and the only change I've seen between the two occasions is the introduction of misdirection techniques to reduce the damage resulting from known program flaws.

What has been a silent concern among the execs and lead engineers at every major group is if Hyundai attracts a leader who can right the company and steer it straight to where it's capable of going before they do too much damage and make themselves a joke from which recovery and strong growth in the short to mid term is not possible. Biermann may just very well be that person and the nightmare become reality.

BMW's main mistake was over producing the i3 (IMO it should have been a Mini EV/REX) and i8 while failing to bring a mid market iX crossover for better use of the capital investments made to facilitate the BMW i product manufacturing. Mini needs some serious rethinking, and BMW needs to finally make the move to right size the product portfolio and features, reduce the internal competition, while staying diverse enough to grow in the most profitable segments. At least Rolls is on a roll in the right direction.