Editor’s Note: Would a coalition-built superfast charging network have been ready for the Tesla Model 3? Will the freshly announced Daimler + Volkswagen + BMW + Ford network be anywhere close to Tesla’s size or usefulness in 2020? 2025? 2030? Was Daimler really trying to help Tesla with some 2014 advice or was it simply trying to slow EV adoption? Anyhow, with those questions out of the way, on to TeslaMondo’s great article:
Originally published on TeslaMondo.
In March 2014, Darth Dieter Zetsche and some others tisk-tisked Tesla for building a proprietary charging network in Europe instead of collaborating with other automakers. Tesla’s response: “Tesla needed to solve the problem of long-distance travel, and we can’t wait for others to agree with our strategy.”
It’s now almost 2017, and guess what? After taking a beating from shareholders, Darth Dieter and some other auto CEOs have finally sat down and agreed on a charging strategy for Europe. If all goes well, the network will begin next year and reach some semblance of completion in 2020.
So, let’s see here: If Tesla had agreed to wait around for Big Auto to get its fat ass off the couch, Tesla’s European operation would have essentially ceased and desisted for all these crucial years, during which Tesla has kicked copious German arsch.
So, in hindsight, the tisk-tisking in 2014 really amounted to a this: “Are you sure you want to expand your business while we’re surgically attached to our couches? Can’t you kinda hold off? We’re old and stuff.”
Darth Dieter also shook his head at the Gigafactory. Even turned down a chance to invest in it when he was a Tesla shareholder. No wonder Sith Lords tend to lose their battle stations. Must be oxygen deprivation due to a crucial design flaw in them there helmets.
For new readers, here’s why TeslaMondo refers to Dr. Z as Darth Dieter.
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