# Musk claims that two of his factories are "losing billions of dollars" **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2022, 11:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828 "2022-06-23T11:10:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 11:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/1 "2022-06-23T11:10:02Z")
> **[New Tesla factories losing billions of dollars, Musk says](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61905276)** > > Elon Musk said the Covid-19 lockdown in Shanghai was "very difficult" for the electric car maker. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 11:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/2 "2022-06-23T11:44:41Z")
Too bad, so sad… No sympathy at all. If your supply chain depends on a country (or a state controlling the ports) that doesn’t give a darn about your business, that is the risk you take. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/3 "2022-06-23T19:41:06Z")
I expect he’s looking for some $$$'s from the US taxpayers. And I expect he’ll get it, in spades. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/4 "2022-06-23T20:23:27Z")
He says if you go 1 block south and then 1 block west and then 1 block north you will be at starting point. At the North Pole. Isn’t going 1 block East/west considered moving on a grid pattern and at 90deg angles? Is his answer based on compus readings? I know he is a smart ass but I think he is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/5 "2022-06-23T20:58:05Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > if you go 1 block south and then 1 block west and then 1 block north you will be at starting point. At the North Pole Often given as an example what occurs in dealing with non-Euclidian geometry in college mathematics courses. Euclidian geometry assumes everything is flat in all directions going to infinity. Earth of course isn’t flat. Well, according to most people .. lol .. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/6 "2022-06-23T21:54:19Z")
NY State taxpayer gave him one billion dollars for a solar city plant where much of the equipment we paid for has been sold off as no longer needed. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/7 "2022-06-24T01:40:50Z")
I read that they’re switching to LFP lithium type cells in half of their cars. These last twice as long as the regular type of lithium ion but they have lower capacity, so they’re not used in the longer range versions of the vehicles. But if I read correctly it’s the Chinese manufacturing that is using LFP. So does that mean the North American market gets the shorter battery life version of the cars? ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 6:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/8 "2022-06-24T06:05:57Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > If your supply chain depends on a country (or a state controlling the ports) that doesn’t give a darn about your business, that is the risk you take. Wouldn’t that describe all automakers (plus a lot of other industries) to some extent with the chip shortages and supply chain issues? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 7:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/9 "2022-06-24T07:08:42Z")
Yes, all automakers have the same problem to varying degrees. But they could make chips in the US or Germany. Musk isn’t going to get cobalt or lithium for his battery factories from inside the US or Germany. Additionally, batteries made in other countries are a lot more dependent on the supply chain than chips. UPS or DHL can ship chips by air…huge batteries come in ships that need ports. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/10 "2022-06-24T13:29:52Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Musk isn’t going to get cobalt or lithium for his battery factories from inside the US or Germany. > > Additionally, batteries made in other countries are a lot more dependent on the supply chain than chips. UPS or DHL can ship chips by air…huge batteries come in ships that need ports. Would it not be the same issue for all manufacturers of EV’s? I understand Ford is manufacturing (or possibly still planning to manufacture) batteries in the US, but I’d think they’d still face the same issue getting the raw materials for the batteries? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/11 "2022-06-24T14:33:54Z")
Oh heck yeah! Even made in the US EV batteries must import raw materials to make them from China, Columbia and the Congo. Large bulky heavy raw materials that come in via the ports… 2 of 3 through California. Problems for all automakers. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/12 "2022-06-24T14:35:16Z")
Well that sucks. Very difficult to be “energy independent” in the truest sense, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/13 "2022-06-24T14:41:13Z")
Being ‘energy independent’ is a distraction, nothing magic happens at that point. Folks in Japan, which produces about zero oil, pay the same as we do (aside from taxes), even though we’re importing about zero net petroleum. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/14 "2022-06-24T14:52:15Z")
> [@texases](#): > > Being ‘energy independent’ is a distraction I’m not looking at it as an exports are greater than imports thing. I’m looking at it as a we don’t rely on another country for our energy needs at all type thing. I don’t see how that could not be a good thing if we could achieve it. The old “made in the USA” scenario. It looks like Japan uses 1/5 to 1/6 the amount of oil we do. Not sure how that factors in to their gas prices. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/15 "2022-06-24T14:59:34Z")
I see no practical/desirable way to achieve that. That would require eliminating all imports/exports of oil, natural gas, petroleum products, electricity, uranium, coal, the list goes on and on. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/16 "2022-06-24T15:02:26Z")
You’re probably right. I did say this: > [@Scrapyard-John](#): > > Very difficult to be “energy independent” in the truest sense, I reckon ---
**Author:** ![Laisseraller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Laisseraller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Laisseraller)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/17 "2022-06-27T18:51:05Z")
Sorry to hear that, Times are tough right now for every business, most small business think that if they could only go big that would solve the issues, but you are saying that it’s a door into more problems? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/18 "2022-06-28T18:25:41Z")
He admits he is an alien ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/19 "2022-06-28T20:43:59Z")
Guess Musk is going to be living in a cardboard box and scrounging dumpsters for food very soon. Musk is gung ho on accountability so if his companies are losing billions then axe the person who is responsible for it; himself. Per the usual though, the buck never quite reaches the top… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828/20 "2022-06-28T21:05:06Z")
> [@ok4450](#): > > if his companies are losing billions then axe the person who is responsible for it; himself. Musk might just talk himself–and Tesla Motors–into financial oblivion if he doesn’t learn to keep his mouth shut. You may or may not remember the case of a group of young Thai soccer players who were trapped in a cave about 4 years ago. Musk labeled the guy who was attempting to rescue the kids as “a pedophile”, and made other offensive–and baseless–statements about the rescuer. But, I guess that big money really can buy the best attorneys because–believe it or not–Musk won the defamation suit that was filed against him. What a self-entitled jerk! > **[Elon Musk Brands Himself An ‘Idiot’ In Thai Cave Rescue Defamation Lawsuit](https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2019/10/09/elon-musk-brands-himself-an-idiot-in-thai-cave-rescue-defamation-lawsuit/)** > > Billionaire Elon Musk has described himself as “an ... idiot” according to newly released court documents in a defamation lawsuit triggered by one of his tweets. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/musk-claims-that-two-of-his-factories-are-losing-billions-of-dollars/184828.md?page=2)