There were plenty of critics around when the Tesla Model S launched four years ago, despite the fact that it was a luxury all-electric sedan. A lot were German and manufacturers of luxury cars, so were happy to decide the American vehicle was not going to succeed. The vehicle, however, was acclaimed a success by the public, and a great many were sold and as a result, there is now a completely different view of it.
Later on, Tesla received almost 400,000 reservations when the Model 3 Sedan was announced, and there is the expectation that this will take away sales from the likes of Audi and BMW- the very companies who were so critical when it first appeared on the scene.
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According to the New York Times, the manufacturers are getting concerned about the effect Tesla will have on their sales. Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche has said that Tesla made a lot of promises at the beginning but managed to live up to them. The German companies are to produce a version of their own electric and hybrid models after Tesla outsold them in their country.
At present, there are only short range cars available from German manufacturers, and this is affecting sales and is another kick or the industry after the recent diesel issue with VW. Shareholders have made their feelings known to Daimler executives although it was pointed out Tesla makes a loss, and Daimler shareholders would not accept that.
The hope for German companies is that their vehicles come out before the Tesla model goes into production.