Ask HN: Would you want Apple to buy Tesla and why?

Tesla really doesn't need the money that Apple would have to pay, either on a company function or executive compensation level.

What Apple could do (and with this much slush in their fund should do), is greenlight a division to go head-to-head against Tesla. The market's already been validated, and there is likely very little Tesla could do to keep Apple out. Apple could buy the automaker (or auto parts suppliers) of their choice to shorten their learning curve.

Now if we get a spinning rainbow ball on the door when you hit unlock on the remote, I'll take what I said back.

I'd want a "Steve Jobs" Apple to buy Tesla. The current Apple... I'm ambivalent.

Why? Well, Steve Jobs was a perfectionist and in some aspects, an idealist. Elon Musk is the same way and he has complete authority over product. That's why Tesla exists and is so damn good.

If purchased now, I think anything could happen. I'm not a Tesla groupie, but I would like to see the company succeed and succeed in making an entry level vehicle and I'm not sure its possible under the current Apple executive infrastructure. They have different skills.

No - unless the payout is so big that it enables Musk to go all-out with SpaceX.

If this happens, I wouldn't be surprised if Tesla cars start coming with a special type of plug which only fits in a charging point in their own network.

No. With the current trends in Apple (easiness--, usefulness--, fashion++, lock-in++) it'll be a net negative.

I wrote an article on this.

Jackkillilea.com

Apple will not buy Tesla.