VW – Page 3199 – I wish I had more to offer

@VW Group: Porsche and Lucasfilm present starship design

Porsche and Lucasfilm present starship design 12/13/2019 Designers from Porsche AG and Lucasfilm Ltd. have joined forces to develop a fantasy starship that brings together the design DNA of the two brands. Over a period of two months, the project team worked together at their respective design studios in Weissach and San Francisco to create… Continue reading @VW Group: Porsche and Lucasfilm present starship design

Honda to debut Japan’s first ‘eyes-off’ self-driving car next year

TOKYO — Honda Motor will release a car next summer that can pilot itself with a driver’s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road — a first for a Japanese automaker, Nikkei has learned. The partial self-driving technology will be incorporated into the Legend, Honda’s flagship luxury model. The car is expected to retail… Continue reading Honda to debut Japan’s first ‘eyes-off’ self-driving car next year

Porsche dreams up a Star Wars ship inspired by its Taycan EV

Sponsored Links Porsche AG Here’s a Star Wars marketing tie-up you may not have seen coming: Porsche has teamed with Lucasfilm to create a fantasy spaceship based on the Taycan EV. While the “Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter” won’t appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker next week, it will be presented as a five… Continue reading Porsche dreams up a Star Wars ship inspired by its Taycan EV

Audi launches 25th anniversary package for its RS models

Audi has launched an exclusive styling package across its RS range, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1994 Audi RS 2 Avant. The performance estate was the company’s first RS-branded model – and this new trim package pays tribute to it, sharing the same paint finish, fresh exterior trim pieces and a range of… Continue reading Audi launches 25th anniversary package for its RS models

Argo AI: Strategy change in the commercialization of autonomous driving

The company Argo AI wants to realign its strategy regarding the commercialization of autonomous driving. That with ford and its cooperation partners Volkswagen working companies for autonomous driving, Argo AI, plans a change of commercialization orientation in autonomous driving. Princeton Argo Lidar Most industry stakeholders are committed to providing robotic taxis, which is accompanied by… Continue reading Argo AI: Strategy change in the commercialization of autonomous driving

Daimler upbeat on sales prospects in China: executive

FILE PHOTO: The Daimler logo is seen before the Daimler annual shareholder meeting in Berlin, Germany, April 5, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke STUTTGART (Reuters) – Daimler (DAIGn.DE) is very positive about the prospects for selling luxury cars in China next year, the company’s China boss Hubertus Troska said on Friday. “It is going very well. China… Continue reading Daimler upbeat on sales prospects in China: executive

Volkswagen, Orix sign MoU for retail leasing

Volkswagen India and Orix Auto Infra have signed a MoU to offer leasing solutions to Indian customers. Orix is ORIX a wholly owned subsidiary of Orix Corporation, Japan. The collaboration comprises of a retail leasing solution, which will be offered in six cities initially, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad & Bengaluru. Gradually, the program will… Continue reading Volkswagen, Orix sign MoU for retail leasing

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India’s new solar-power rooftop installation to slash C02 emissions at Pune plant

25,770 photovoltaic panels covering 63,000 square metres of roof space produce 12.2 million kWh of energy a year and help reduce CO2 emissions resulting from car production at the Chakan, Pune plant. Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has commissioned one of the largest solar-power rooftop systems in India at its plant in Chakan, Pune. Together with… Continue reading Skoda Auto Volkswagen India’s new solar-power rooftop installation to slash C02 emissions at Pune plant

Tesla’s Competitive Advantage Under A Magnifying Glass — The Netherlands

Invest
Electric Cars
Electric Car Benefits
Electric Car Sales
Solar Energy Rocks
RSS
Advertise
Privacy Policy

Cars

Published on December 12th, 2019 |

by Maarten Vinkhuyzen

Tesla’s Competitive Advantage Under A Magnifying Glass — The Netherlands

Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook

December 12th, 2019 by Maarten Vinkhuyzen

It’s easy to ignore Tesla’s Dutch sales success as just a temporary fluke created by an incentive change. And it is, but that is not the interesting thing about it.

What’s interesting is how the other cars that are subject to the same change react, and how different that is from how Tesla’s vehicles react. It illustrates the competitive advantage of Tesla under a magnifying glass.

Dutch electric vehicle sales in the first 9 days of December:

Perhaps over 90% of these cars are company cars made available for private use as a “Benefit in Kind” to employees. With this kind of company-provided vehicle, the employees have a large amount of freedom to choose the car they like the best within a budget allocated to them. The incentive for electric vehicles is that they provide a lower addition to the person’s taxable income compared to gas burners. This incentive will be smaller next year, which will make the upfront cost competition with fossil fuel addicts more difficult.

Another challenge in 2020 is the start of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. Carmakers will be fined for every gram they exceed the 95 grams of CO2/km limit. They are all well above that line at the moment. The best way to lower the average is to sell more zero-emissions vehicles. Over a dozen new fully electric models will go onto the market as a result. These December sales, however, will be a lot harder to match in the new year.

All of these models are fighting for customers on equal terms. All can get the same incentives. All are subject to the same regulations. Some have large dealer networks, some have fewer sales locations. That is the biggest difference. As we can see, though, the one with the least sales locations sells the most. That is not logical.

There is no home turf advantage for any of them, like the Detroit Dwindling Three have in the USA or French and German carmakers have in their home countries. This is a pure beauty pageant comparing the cars and dealer networks on equal terms. With the whole industry trying to deliver as much as possible before the deadline, we have a unique opportunity to compare their popularity.

I can only speculate about why Tesla is winning so many more sales than the competition. According to José Pontes in his recent report on November sales in the Netherlands, there are a number of reasons. Some carmakers, like Volkswagen Group, are just not that interested in a few dozen extra sales. Others were late in realizing what was happening, like Renault and Nissan, or were just starting production of a refreshed model, also Renault and Nissan.

But this is not the real explanation I am looking for. Why is Tesla delivering about 10 times as many as the next guy?

Okay, it is a better product at a better price for many people. But is that it? (Personally, I am waiting for my Renault ZOE in two weeks.) The Tesla Model 3 is getting nearly three times as many sales as the rest combined, while almost everyone is pushing to get as many cars out the door as possible in this end-of-year rush. That is a big difference. Is it just the cool factor? All the hype, Twitter wars, fanboys, and media attention? Is it something else?

Perhaps only the Ford Model T has been this dominant.

Please share your experience.

Follow CleanTechnica on Google News.
It will make you happy & help you live in peace for the rest of your life.

About the Author

Maarten Vinkhuyzen Grumpy old man. The best thing I did with my life was raising two kids. Only finished primary education, but when you don’t go to school, you have lots of time to read. I switched from accounting to software development and ended my career as system integrator and architect. My 2007 boss got two electric Lotus Elise cars to show policymakers the future direction of energy and transportation. And I have been looking to replace my diesel cars with electric vehicles ever since.

And putting my money where my mouth is, I have bought Tesla shares. Intend to keep them until I can trade them for a Tesla car.

Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of millions of monthly readers.

Supercar maker McLaren to skip electric vehicles. Here’s why — and what it will build instead.

CLOSE Prices for the McLaren 720S Spider start at $315,000. This one cost about $411,000. (Photo: Mark Phelan) Brands from Ford to Porsche are all-in on electric vehicles, but don’t expect a battery-powered model from exotic sports car maker McLaren Automotive anytime soon. “Technology doesn’t allow for a great EV sports car today, largely because… Continue reading Supercar maker McLaren to skip electric vehicles. Here’s why — and what it will build instead.