this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025
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Considering the pickup EV has been an enormous commercial flop, only selling barely a fraction of Musk’s promised 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks a year, there’s a good chance Tesla is using the mercurial CEO’s other venture to boost the numbers ahead of the end of an otherwise disastrous year.

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[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I mean sure, it doesn't look great, but it's not fraud.

SpaceX is a private company buying vehicles that regardless of how you feel about them, are capable of towing things or being gifts to employees for the work they've done.

SpaceX needs vehicles to tow things, and using an EV to help lower emissions would be a valid goal. They're also an all day portable 240v power source which I'm sure there are plenty of uses for in construction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-2rjmL8MgY

I'm not even sure if it would reach the level of fraud given they're a private company if they just let them sit on a lot for years then sold them at a loss as a used vehicle, but I imagine that would warrant their private investors suing for some breach of duty though

Edit: Also you really need to separate sold services from government giving them money. Grants can be a different thing, but when the government pays them $100 million to launch a rocket, they get a $100 million and launch a rocket. It's not some sort of life line or subsidy. This is in general as well for sold services/contracts, not targeted at SpaceX. SpaceX survived early on because of these, but they were still selling a service the government wanted. Also, the government is saving 10's of billions of dollars using SpaceX vs alternatives.

[–] AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It looks bad cause it is, what Musk is doing with his companies has all the look of moving money around to hide losses, it's generally seen as a bad thing to amortize losses from one of your businesses to another (cybertruck), if shareholders cared there would be more lawsuits.

You also see this with how the businesses are being consolidated around xai. It's a house of cards thats being held up by a government largess.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I made an edit, you might have missed about the government side, but i'll just post it again here.

You really need to separate sold services from government giving them money. Grants can be a different thing, but when the government pays them $100 million to launch a rocket, they get a $100 million and launch a rocket. It’s not some sort of life line or subsidy. This is in general as well for sold services/contracts, not targeted at SpaceX. SpaceX survived early on because of these, but they were still selling a service the government wanted. Also, the government is saving 10’s of billions of dollars using SpaceX vs alternatives.

Nothing is being "held up by government largess" with SpaceX.

[–] AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I actually refuse to separate out any of that, that money which is coming from an entity which is getting provided that money by taxpayers is the primary funding. Those contracts for service or grants for research are all ultimately controlled by an entity who can either collapse to the point where that money is no longer available, or absorb the business in an authoritarian way, or simply put money behind a different billionaires infrastructure. By making it really hard for the last guy and really easy for the next guy, they really don't lose that much time.

The real value of musk, the tesla stock price, was based on having a near monopoly on cars and charging, that's been mixed to AI and humanoid robots. One of which doesn't turn a profit and the other of which doesnt exist.

Space X, the only company that produces anything of value in Musks portfolio only exists because of tax payer money.

Dude is on thin ice, it's getting thinner, and the American government will be under it when it falls to screw him just as hard as it helped him.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I actually refuse to separate out any of that,

Well, as long as that's your stance you're always going to be misinformed or angry about things.

This is a garbage in garbage out situation.

You've painted yourself into this garbage corner where you can't/won't accept something, and that cascades to your entire view on the topic.

[–] AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Lmao, I don't agree with your premise for specific reasons and now you want to guilt trip me. This shit might work on your family and friends, but not on some random internet weirdo with a diff opinion.

Kinda makes you look like a weirdo too, that just my opinion tho. Enjoy your temper tantrum.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

When the premise at it's core is faulted yes. It's not a guilt trip. It's like people who deny climate change and then base all their decisions based on it being fake. Trying to convince them climate change is real isn't guilt tripping them.

[–] AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Man i really triggered you by disagreeing with your points! You really have to act like I'm disagreeing with climate change. That's fucking hilarious.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No, I'm not triggered. I never said you disagree with climate change.

You self said you refuse to differentiate someone buying something and someone being given money, it was just an example.

[–] AWistfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Naw, you're pretty fucking assmad, the example is loaded. Comparing Elon companies to anthropogenic (I'm assuming) climate change is a wild reach. One only a guilt tripping weirdo would try to lay down on some stranger in an anonymous argument. Like you should step back, getting cringy now.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Okay, have a good rest of your day, I didn't mean for my example of not accepting something and it clouding future decisions to trigger you so much.