Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Says Company May Purchase Technology From Tesla

[interestedinEV]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Says Company May Purchase Technology From Tesla

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/11/0...s-company-may-purchase-technology-from-tesla/

WOW, Acknowledgement that Tesla has IP and technology that others don't. Again no confirmation that Tesla would sell it but this is confirmation that Tesla is the leader. What is surprising is that Wyamo uses Chrysler Pacifica for their car in Phoenix, so it cannot be the self-driving technology from Tesla.


On a conference call with stock analysts last week, Manley announced that FCA would consider buying a skateboard or rolling chassis from Tesla to serve as the basis for electric cars from the FCA/PSA alliance. Manley hinted that the new company could adapt the Tesla skateboard to individual markets by using suspension, braking, and other systems already on the shelf for brands such as Maserati, Alfa Romeo, or Jeep that are part of FCA today. He did not say whether Tesla has expressed any interest in selling such skateboards to other companies.


“The customer will be agnostic” to certain components like batteries and drivetrains, Manley said, according to Business Insider. What he means is that drivers focus more on the emblem on the hood and how comfy the seats are rather than the components that make a car go. He may be correct. Few people ever see the battery pack in an electric car or the motors that turn the wheels. They could come from Mars for all most people care as long as they function properly.

 

[David Green]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Says Company May Purchase Technology From Tesla

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/11/0...s-company-may-purchase-technology-from-tesla/

I think its highly unlikely this will ever come to fruition as Tesla currently has no excess manufacturing capacity in its supply chain and will be strapped to make batteries for its own vehicles, not to mention those battery cells are made by Panasonic, who has said they are not making more investments in the Tesla JV, as they have lost money. Once they fully depreciate their equipment they may start to make a little, but Tesla keeps pressing for pricing discounts.

Tesla could ramp up to make motors for others, but again there are so many suppliers in this space the pricing will be commodity pricing which would not be attractive to Tesla.

 

[R P]

This headline says more about the ineptitude of FCA than the prowess of Tesla. The really good companies will keep their technology proprietary unless it is no longer state of the art.

 

[interestedinEV]

This headline says more about the ineptitude of FCA than the prowess of Tesla. The really good companies will keep their technology proprietary unless it is no longer state of the art.

Glass half full or half empty. Your view point is one way to look at it. The other way is that Tesla has done something unique and it is cheaper for FCA to "buy" then "make", the classic business analysis.

And it does not mean that both cannot be true at the same time, that FCA has shown "ineptitude" and that Tesla has leading edge technology. They are not mutually exclusive. You may disagree but I believe FCA needs Tesla more than Tesla needs FCA.

Also please note that Tesla has not committed to giving anything to FCA, at least not publicly.

 

[interestedinEV]

I think its highly unlikely this will ever come to fruition as Tesla currently has no excess manufacturing capacity in its supply chain and will be strapped to make batteries for its own vehicles, not to mention those battery cells are made by Panasonic, who has said they are not making more investments in the Tesla JV, as they have lost money. Once they fully depreciate their equipment they may start to make a little, but Tesla keeps pressing for pricing discounts.

Tesla could ramp up to make motors for others, but again there are so many suppliers in this space the pricing will be commodity pricing which would not be attractive to Tesla.

Valid point. The only caveat I think off is that if FCA wants to claim they use the same components of Tesla and hence are willing to pay a premium. If that were to happen, @R P 's comments are valid as they would indicate the sorry state at FCA in bold letters.

 

[bwilson4web]

This article suggests Continental, Delphi, and LG Chem are technically inferior to Tesla.
Bob Wilson

 

[David Green]

This article suggests Continental, Delphi, and LG Chem are technically inferior to Tesla.
Bob Wilson

I think Tesla is superior in some aspects, and these other names are superior in other aspects. It's like a ferrari engine is more high tech than my diesel, but the diesel works just fine in the pickup. Many of your talking point do not even matter to most buyers in the market as can be seen by E-Tron dominating Tesla S and X in Europe since its unveil.

 

[apu]

Many of your talking point do not even matter to most buyers in the market as can be seen by E-Tron dominating Tesla S and X in Europe since its unveil.

Presumably the term "most buyers" would be represented by the largest sales market which would be China and North America, Europe pales by comparison. Yet in those markets the etron holds relative diminutive representation and in North America it seems to be unfortunately retracting. I certainly can't appreciate the domination you represent by "most buyers in the market".