The article is flawed with comparing the stats and here's why. The 3 series had a total worldwide production of over 500,000 in 2013 (and growing about 10+% YOY). Producing and selling half a million cars of just ONE model. Or consider this, BMW alone sold 2.2 million vehicles last year, many of which share many parts and components. That's the scale Tesla is up against, not just the 140k 3 series sold in US. Also, BMW sold almost as much of its semi electric cars in 2015 alone as Tesla did in all of its existence.