Include Tesla Motors In Auto Loan Package!!! (Tesla Roadster Video)

I saw a video on Tech Ticker today talking about Tesla Motors who builds an electric car for 109k. There was a NYT article saying they shouldn't get low interest funding of $400 million included in the auto funding package. What the ffff, why not? If the taxpayer is going to keep the Big 3 from going out of business why not provide funding to a company with a cooler product that could lower prices in the future? I wanted to post about this because I saw an interesting interview with the founder Elon Musk at the most recent Web 2.0 conference which is embedded at the bottom.

First check out the Tesla Motors Roadster

New York Times "Only the Rich Can Afford It. Should Taxpayers Back It?"

"The Tesla Roadster is an electric car that goes fast, looks sensational and excites envy. The seductive appearance, however, obscures some inconvenient truths: its all-electric technology remains woefully immature and don’t-even-ask expensive. If enough billionaires step forward to inject additional capital to keep the doors of its manufacturer, Tesla Motors, open, I’m happy for all parties. If investors pass up the opportunity, however, why should taxpayers fork over the capital that Tesla needs? The Roadster is not much more than a functioning concept car that sells for $109,000. The company is requesting $400 million in low-interest federal loans as part of the $25 billion loan package for the auto industry passed by Congress last year........"

Video from Tech Ticker w/ Paul Kedrosky (12/08)

Founder Interviewed at Web 2.0 Conference (11/08)

The Terminator likes Tesla, disses Detroit! (9/08)