Elon Musk has just confirmed the bold irony between Tesla and Mercedes-Benz! In a tweet reply, the Tesla CEO revealed how during the electric vehicle maker’s most difficult days Mercedes-Benz helped him. Helping your competitor in need is a very good thing to do if the company is honestly competing with you. But Elon showed that there is a bold irony in this story, which I am about to tell you. This news is sure to have many people talking as it highlights the remarkable success of Tesla and the changing times in the automotive industry. With this news,
The irony is this. Speaking about how 4 years ago in 2009 Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler acquired nearly 10 percent of Tesla, and gave it a much needed hand in a very difficult time, Musk revealed the irony. He said “Ironically, the company that made the first commercially viable internal combustion engine car saved the company that made the first commercially viable electric car!.” This is what Musk has just revealed during a thread on Twitter.
In fact, it was a $50 million investment that Daimler made in Tesla in May 2009, which saved the Tesla as we know it today.
The investment made things easier, allowing Musk to continue with his plans to produce electric cars and finally bring them to market. And now, with its five models, Tesla remains one of the most renowned electric vehicle manufacturers in the world, with the promise of a sixth model to come.
Fascinating and encouraging, this story proves the impact investments can have, sometimes sustaining a company beyond what we can even imagine. With that, and a little luck, it seems anything is possible.
#tesla #elonmusk
This is Armen Hareyan from Torque News. Please follow us at on Twitter and for daily automotive news.
Reference
Elon Musk
The Street
Armen Hareyan, torque News Tesla
