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Comment by wil421 | Hacker News Reader

I’ve always thought they’d be acquired if they fail or become a big enough threat. Usually downvoted for saying this. I think the Big 3 US/German makers figured EVs were a decade or two away after seeing Tesla and Leaf’s success they might be rethinking it.

Tesla’s software, engine tech, and battery production would be a nice addition to Big Autos stack.

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It would for sure be a boon for them to copy Tesla's homework in this fashion but let's not forget that the culture that fostered such breakthrough would likely suffocate and die in that post-acquisition environment. For a group whose stated mission is to accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy, I see this outcome to be unlikely. However much it might help those entrenched entities save face and present a "Hello, fellow EV makers!" facade.

Big companies acquire for the product not the innovation. Smart big companies will even leave the entity alone as not to hamper innovation. Most of the time they absolutely kill innovation as seen with Google and a couple innovate/grow by acquisition FinTech MegaCorps I worked at.

I’ve seen a few teams or line of businesses rally “Let’s get back our unique culture” after the merge. Not gonna happen if MegaCorp bought you. Everyone else already cashed out or left.

Elon Musk wouldn't have had the capital to bank Tesla in the first place if he ignored potential exits outright simply for principal's sake.

Not to mention that that sort of acquisition could be seen as "mission accomplished" given the right M&A voodoo or PR spin.

Tesla isn't immune to capitalism and is itself a product of it.

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