Hacker News Reader

Comment by UnpossibleJim | Hacker News Reader

I think you've hit on something that a lot of the detractors of Tesla have seemed to have forgotten. The alternatives are Ford, Chevy, Honda and Toyota. While I fully understand that Tesla is no titan of the little man and Musk is a very flawed man, compared to the titans of industry and the sins of the past that these companies are responsible for, it's a little odd that so much vitriol gets thrown toward Tesla and not these companies who are, ever so slowly, switching from diesel and gas powered automobiles.

I haven't even mentioned how Tesla is the only company that doesn't sponsor at least one (I think they all sponsor multiple) traditionally powered racing teams, whose development goes into premium powered, traditional gas powered automobiles. Plus the advertisement of said vehicles.

View on HN

> I haven't even mentioned how Tesla is the only company that doesn't sponsor at least one (I think they all sponsor multiple) traditionally powered racing teams, whose development goes into premium powered, traditional gas powered automobiles.

Not exclusively. Formula 1 and Le Mans use hybrid engines. Formula E and Extreme E are battery electric racing series.

Why doesn't Tesla have a Formula E team?

Because motorsport is a giant unprofitable waste of money. The only value they get out of it is advertising their brand, and Tesla doesn't advertise.

Why would Tesla spend the minimum tens of millions of dollars to get into what is at best a side diversion from their main business? They certainly have better uses for that capital and talent.

> Tesla doesn't advertise.

Of course they do. They advertised at you and it worked. It's worked so well that you're even parroting their marketing messages for them, including the myth that they don't advertise.

> Why would Tesla spend the minimum tens of millions of dollars to get into what is at best a side diversion from their main business?

Formula E doesn't cost tens of millions of dollars. Team budgets in Formula E are $10 million. And Tesla doesn't need to own a team. They can be a powertrain supplier just like other car companies are suppliers and not team owners.

All four also have off road racing teams (those were the only ones I was familiar with, sadly). I don't follow Formula 1 or Le Mans, I'm afraid.

As for Formula E, that's a great question. It seems like it should be right up their alley, but I'm almost positive AI is verboten and that would be a non starter for Tesla.

> but I'm almost positive AI is verboten and that would be a non starter for Tesla

Then they can join Roborace which is all about AI:

https://roborace.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roborace

Although sometimes the AI is more artificial and less intelligent:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37366/why-that-autonomous-race...

Now, that appeals to me more than any actual racing! I always enjoyed the DARPA challenge of autonomous, off-road travel.

Thanks for this =)

Because they are known for having fast EVs. Having a team and losing would be a hit on their reputation, but having a team and winning wouldn't change much. So they have a lot to lose and little to gain.

Whats the point when everyone drives the same hardware?

They don't. Teams have different powertrains.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com