Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio news.

Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio news.

Well, Elon Musk gives now the richest person on the planet.

Well, Elon Musk gives now the richest person on the planet.

More than half the satellites in space are owned and controlled by one man.

More than half the satellites in space are owned and controlled by one man.

Well, he's a legitimate super genius.

Well, he's a legitimate super genius.

I mean legitimate.

I mean legitimate.

He says.

He says.

He's always voted for Democrats, but this year it will be different.

He's always voted for Democrats, but this year it will be different.

He'll vote Republican.

He'll vote Republican.

There is a reason the US government is so reliant on him. Alon Musk is a scam artist and he's done nothing.

There is a reason the US government is so reliant on him. Alon Musk is a scam artist and he's done nothing.

Anything he does, he's fascinating people.

Anything he does, he's fascinating people.

Welcome to Elon Ink, Bloomberg's weekly podcast about Elon Musk. It's February twenty seven, twenty twenty four. I'm your host, David Papadopolis. The boring Company is Elon's mass transit gambit. According to Musk, it's supposed to take us from New York City to Washington, d C. In just thirty minutes with the high speed underground transportation system, so fast Train more or less. But a new piece from Bloomberg BusinessWeek tells the story of scarring chemical burns, broken promises, and little progress beyond a glorified shuttle bus system built for the Las Vegas Convention Center we'll talk about that today, but we also have better news for Elon. The cybertruck is good. Hannah Elliott will join us to talk about her review of Elon's hotly debated futuristic pickup. We start with Boring though, and to do that, I am joined here in the studio by Max Chafkin, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reporter. Hello Max, Hey, and we're joined by Sarah McBride, who covers startups for us here at Bloomberg, including Neuralink, Elon, Musk, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Welcome, Sarah.

Welcome to Elon Ink, Bloomberg's weekly podcast about Elon Musk. It's February twenty seven, twenty twenty four. I'm your host, David Papadopolis. The boring Company is Elon's mass transit gambit. According to Musk, it's supposed to take us from New York City to Washington, d C. In just thirty minutes with the high speed underground transportation system, so fast Train more or less. But a new piece from Bloomberg BusinessWeek tells the story of scarring chemical burns, broken promises, and little progress beyond a glorified shuttle bus system built for the Las Vegas Convention Center we'll talk about that today, but we also have better news for Elon. The cybertruck is good. Hannah Elliott will join us to talk about her review of Elon's hotly debated futuristic pickup. We start with Boring though, and to do that, I am joined here in the studio by Max Chafkin, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reporter. Hello Max, Hey, and we're joined by Sarah McBride, who covers startups for us here at Bloomberg, including Neuralink, Elon, Musk, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Welcome, Sarah.

Hi.

Hi.

Okay, Sarah, So let's dig in. We've never on this show talked about the Boring Company. We talk about all as companies every week all the time, but it's never come up yet until now. So tell our readers a little bit about what the company does and what the ultimate goal here is.

Okay, Sarah, So let's dig in. We've never on this show talked about the Boring Company. We talk about all as companies every week all the time, but it's never come up yet until now. So tell our readers a little bit about what the company does and what the ultimate goal here is.

Yeah, the Boring companies under the radar compared to other MUSS companies. Its goal was to connect cities using underground passages where people would travel at extremely high speeds like riding in a train but going at the speed of an airplane in near vacuum conditions, and over time that goal has been scaled down and now the project that the Boring Company is working on is in Las Vegas, and it's to take people to different points under the city of Las Vegas. And what they've done is dug a tunnel under the convention Center. A lot of people would say it's really no problem to walk from one side to the other of the convention Center, but it is several buildings, and so there's a tunnel that's about a mile long in each direction. And they have recently run into a lot of problems that we wouldn't know about, except there were a bunch of worker Safety OSHA complaints filed, and that shed some light onto the speed at which Boring's trying to build out this system.

Yeah, the Boring companies under the radar compared to other MUSS companies. Its goal was to connect cities using underground passages where people would travel at extremely high speeds like riding in a train but going at the speed of an airplane in near vacuum conditions, and over time that goal has been scaled down and now the project that the Boring Company is working on is in Las Vegas, and it's to take people to different points under the city of Las Vegas. And what they've done is dug a tunnel under the convention Center. A lot of people would say it's really no problem to walk from one side to the other of the convention Center, but it is several buildings, and so there's a tunnel that's about a mile long in each direction. And they have recently run into a lot of problems that we wouldn't know about, except there were a bunch of worker Safety OSHA complaints filed, and that shed some light onto the speed at which Boring's trying to build out this system.

Max tell us a little bit about what those complaints.

Max tell us a little bit about what those complaints.

So, yeah, the complaints, they span a bunch of different issues related to workplace conditions underground. And by the way, we try to get the Boring company's perspective. They did not respond to our request for comment, but they have denied the substance of these allegations to government regulators. They basically said, you're not you haven't proven any of has happened. We're going to deny this all. So that's kind of where things stand. Some of them are sound so bad it's almost funny. So a few things they is sort of this like toxic water that's like at the bottom of some of these tunnels and that workers have to have to wade through. They're getting these terrible chemical burns, according to the workers. So the main problem in tunneling, again, this is kind of a weird thing, a weird world for like one of our biggest brainiacts and you know, most successful doers to do. But the big problem in tunneling is is muck. That's the technical term for the stuff that you're trying to move out of the tunnel to you know, make room.

So, yeah, the complaints, they span a bunch of different issues related to workplace conditions underground. And by the way, we try to get the Boring company's perspective. They did not respond to our request for comment, but they have denied the substance of these allegations to government regulators. They basically said, you're not you haven't proven any of has happened. We're going to deny this all. So that's kind of where things stand. Some of them are sound so bad it's almost funny. So a few things they is sort of this like toxic water that's like at the bottom of some of these tunnels and that workers have to have to wade through. They're getting these terrible chemical burns, according to the workers. So the main problem in tunneling, again, this is kind of a weird thing, a weird world for like one of our biggest brainiacts and you know, most successful doers to do. But the big problem in tunneling is is muck. That's the technical term for the stuff that you're trying to move out of the tunnel to you know, make room.

For the air.

For the air.

And they were just drastically overloading these bins of muck and one of the muck bins exploded it, you know. The then you have these like two ton concrete bricks, like fifteen of them flying everywhere, nearly hit an intern. Now no, we should say like, look, tunneling is a dangerous Mining is a dangerous business.

And they were just drastically overloading these bins of muck and one of the muck bins exploded it, you know. The then you have these like two ton concrete bricks, like fifteen of them flying everywhere, nearly hit an intern. Now no, we should say like, look, tunneling is a dangerous Mining is a dangerous business.

And the chemra and this is in many ways is sort of similar to mine.

And the chemra and this is in many ways is sort of similar to mine.

This is mining in fact, and that's where a lot of the workers are coming from. I mean, it is mining. They're digging in the ground. But what I'll say is the big promise here from Elon Musk was not that I'm going to mine. It was that I'm going to come up with new and innovative ways to do mining much more efficiently, much faster, much better at a much lower cost.

This is mining in fact, and that's where a lot of the workers are coming from. I mean, it is mining. They're digging in the ground. But what I'll say is the big promise here from Elon Musk was not that I'm going to mine. It was that I'm going to come up with new and innovative ways to do mining much more efficiently, much faster, much better at a much lower cost.

Like that was the original pitch.

Like that was the original pitch.

And instead and that's what and why this story is important is what you actually see and what workers we spoke to are saying is that the boring company is basically in most ways like a normal tunneling venture. It's just cutting like a lot of corners, as they see it. And so instead of coming up with obviously innovative ways to dig tunnels, what they seem to have done, at least by some accounts, is just sort of put workers at risk and force them to work much harder, much longer, and under these, you know, exceedingly difficult conditions that frankly, I don't think many would have accepted if it weren't for the fact that they were like, oh, we're working for this, you know, Elon Musk company.

And instead and that's what and why this story is important is what you actually see and what workers we spoke to are saying is that the boring company is basically in most ways like a normal tunneling venture. It's just cutting like a lot of corners, as they see it. And so instead of coming up with obviously innovative ways to dig tunnels, what they seem to have done, at least by some accounts, is just sort of put workers at risk and force them to work much harder, much longer, and under these, you know, exceedingly difficult conditions that frankly, I don't think many would have accepted if it weren't for the fact that they were like, oh, we're working for this, you know, Elon Musk company.

You know, the same reason a lot of people work for him.

You know, the same reason a lot of people work for him.

So Sarah, there's nothing special about the Boring Company's drilling rigs just sort of run of the mill mining rigs.

So Sarah, there's nothing special about the Boring Company's drilling rigs just sort of run of the mill mining rigs.

In ways, they're worse than regular mining rigs because most mining rigs from big established companies have a lot of safety features built in that we heard that the Boring company's rigs lack. Let me paint a picture for you of what it was like to be working in one of these tunnels. So last summer was regularly one hundred and twenty degrees in Vegas. You'd think underground it would be cooler, No, it wasn't. They tried to cool it down in there. It didn't work very well. You go to your job site, you might have to wade through toxic mud and muck. Also, you'd have to duck muck that might be dropping on you from the conveyor belts running overhead. Then when you got into the tunnel, you ran the risk of heat exhaustion. In some of the tunnels you were not allowed out. These were twelve hour shifts, they ran twenty four hours. There was always somebody in the tunnel. You couldn't leave to go to the bathroom. You'd have to get permission when you did leave. Then you might have other incidents in the pit outside that's where the exploding muckbin was. There was somebody who was driving a forklift with faulty brakes that fell over. That person was thrown from the forklift. People were getting chemical burns. In one thirty day period, ten to fifteen people got chemical burns. That's not routine. That is really bad. That's very drastic.

In ways, they're worse than regular mining rigs because most mining rigs from big established companies have a lot of safety features built in that we heard that the Boring company's rigs lack. Let me paint a picture for you of what it was like to be working in one of these tunnels. So last summer was regularly one hundred and twenty degrees in Vegas. You'd think underground it would be cooler, No, it wasn't. They tried to cool it down in there. It didn't work very well. You go to your job site, you might have to wade through toxic mud and muck. Also, you'd have to duck muck that might be dropping on you from the conveyor belts running overhead. Then when you got into the tunnel, you ran the risk of heat exhaustion. In some of the tunnels you were not allowed out. These were twelve hour shifts, they ran twenty four hours. There was always somebody in the tunnel. You couldn't leave to go to the bathroom. You'd have to get permission when you did leave. Then you might have other incidents in the pit outside that's where the exploding muckbin was. There was somebody who was driving a forklift with faulty brakes that fell over. That person was thrown from the forklift. People were getting chemical burns. In one thirty day period, ten to fifteen people got chemical burns. That's not routine. That is really bad. That's very drastic.

It is our sense that the scale of these injuries, in the nature of the things that were happening there on this mining job, are worse and more severe and extreme than you'd see in a typical mining site.

It is our sense that the scale of these injuries, in the nature of the things that were happening there on this mining job, are worse and more severe and extreme than you'd see in a typical mining site.

Yes, because mining is dangerous, most mining companies have a lot of protocols in place. It just seems like Boring cut a lot of corners. So where on a normal mining site a chemical burn would be an anomaly, it seemed very routine there.

Yes, because mining is dangerous, most mining companies have a lot of protocols in place. It just seems like Boring cut a lot of corners. So where on a normal mining site a chemical burn would be an anomaly, it seemed very routine there.

Okay, Max, I want to pivot for a second and talk a little bit about some of those lofty promises we talked about at the beginning. When Elon was dialing up this company in this idea, and he was hyping it up and pulling in venture capital to help fund it, it seemed like for a period of time the Boring Company was dancing with mayors and governors across the country, or actually apparently maybe even striking deals across the country. Yeah, is any of that true?

Okay, Max, I want to pivot for a second and talk a little bit about some of those lofty promises we talked about at the beginning. When Elon was dialing up this company in this idea, and he was hyping it up and pulling in venture capital to help fund it, it seemed like for a period of time the Boring Company was dancing with mayors and governors across the country, or actually apparently maybe even striking deals across the country. Yeah, is any of that true?

I think it was all true ish.

I think it was all true ish.

So Boring Company, in a lot of ways is kind of a prototype for some of Elon Musk's you know, more recent exploits. So just like the Twitter acquisition, you know, sort of funny tweet turns into a real thing. Company is founded by Elon Musk. He's like in traffic, he types in it. It was a prelude to the Twitter X. Yeah, yeah, I mean he he he does this like trollish tweet storm that's like I'm going to start a tunnel company. It's gonna it's gonna be called the Boring Company, and it's a bunch of dad jokes and it's like hard to tell, like is he serious? Is he not serious? And then you have this kind of manic period where he's actually trying to make it real. And it was during that period, and I think this is part of part of why the Boring Company happened. Donald Trump was elected president, a lot of people around Trump, including Steve Mannon and to some extent Trump himself, were saying, hey, we're going to spend a trillion dollars on infrastructure. And I think what Elon Musk thought, in addition to being like annoyed that traffic was bad, was that, you know, I have this company SpaceX. It is really good at taking existing technologies and making them more efficient and selling them to the government. I'm going to do the same with tunnels. The government wants infrastructure, I am going to take some existing technology, make it a little better, you know, frankly, cut some corners, cut the corners that can be cut, and make it way way cheaper. And that just hasn't happened. Part of the problem, of course, was that Trump talked a big game in a lot of areas but didn't There wasn't necessarily follow through. At the same time, Musk talked a big game, and so you had a lot of a sort of series of projects. The most hilarious thing that happened during this time is Musk tweeted that he had verbal approval to build a tunnel a high speed train from DC to New York that was going to take twenty nine minutes, and then it came out like that it was just some verbal agreement from some people. The Trump administration disavowed it, and you sort of had this repeat over a series of places. So it's just been like a sort of escalating or de escalating series of like failures to launch, ending essentially in Las Vegas.

So Boring Company, in a lot of ways is kind of a prototype for some of Elon Musk's you know, more recent exploits. So just like the Twitter acquisition, you know, sort of funny tweet turns into a real thing. Company is founded by Elon Musk. He's like in traffic, he types in it. It was a prelude to the Twitter X. Yeah, yeah, I mean he he he does this like trollish tweet storm that's like I'm going to start a tunnel company. It's gonna it's gonna be called the Boring Company, and it's a bunch of dad jokes and it's like hard to tell, like is he serious? Is he not serious? And then you have this kind of manic period where he's actually trying to make it real. And it was during that period, and I think this is part of part of why the Boring Company happened. Donald Trump was elected president, a lot of people around Trump, including Steve Mannon and to some extent Trump himself, were saying, hey, we're going to spend a trillion dollars on infrastructure. And I think what Elon Musk thought, in addition to being like annoyed that traffic was bad, was that, you know, I have this company SpaceX. It is really good at taking existing technologies and making them more efficient and selling them to the government. I'm going to do the same with tunnels. The government wants infrastructure, I am going to take some existing technology, make it a little better, you know, frankly, cut some corners, cut the corners that can be cut, and make it way way cheaper. And that just hasn't happened. Part of the problem, of course, was that Trump talked a big game in a lot of areas but didn't There wasn't necessarily follow through. At the same time, Musk talked a big game, and so you had a lot of a sort of series of projects. The most hilarious thing that happened during this time is Musk tweeted that he had verbal approval to build a tunnel a high speed train from DC to New York that was going to take twenty nine minutes, and then it came out like that it was just some verbal agreement from some people. The Trump administration disavowed it, and you sort of had this repeat over a series of places. So it's just been like a sort of escalating or de escalating series of like failures to launch, ending essentially in Las Vegas.

Sarah, let me ask you this, what is our understanding of the value of Boring Company as it stands now? I know it's not the biggest of Elon's companies. I do know that a year or so ago it had a valuation of roughly six billion dollars, which, by the way, just so we know what we're talking about. If you look at six billion dollar companies out there right now in the market, that would be Sonoco, Lyft. Where does Boring stack up right now?

Sarah, let me ask you this, what is our understanding of the value of Boring Company as it stands now? I know it's not the biggest of Elon's companies. I do know that a year or so ago it had a valuation of roughly six billion dollars, which, by the way, just so we know what we're talking about. If you look at six billion dollar companies out there right now in the market, that would be Sonoco, Lyft. Where does Boring stack up right now?

You know, it's really unclear. The only way to know is if they raised another funding round. I think they'd have trouble right now raising at that valuation. When employees joined Boring, they aren't really told what their equity in the company is worth. Most private venture backed companies are not very transparent about their valuation, and the Boring Company is leaving even less transparent than most.

You know, it's really unclear. The only way to know is if they raised another funding round. I think they'd have trouble right now raising at that valuation. When employees joined Boring, they aren't really told what their equity in the company is worth. Most private venture backed companies are not very transparent about their valuation, and the Boring Company is leaving even less transparent than most.

Okay, Max, let me maybe frame it to you this way. Yeah, when you're a serial entrepreneur like Elon Musk is, and you're dialing up companies left and and you've turned some into absolute behemoths and others is doesn't it just stand the reason that others just you know, are gonna flop on you. I mean, you can't dial up company after a company and they're all be home runs.

Okay, Max, let me maybe frame it to you this way. Yeah, when you're a serial entrepreneur like Elon Musk is, and you're dialing up companies left and and you've turned some into absolute behemoths and others is doesn't it just stand the reason that others just you know, are gonna flop on you. I mean, you can't dial up company after a company and they're all be home runs.

Especially if you're running, you know, six companies at a time and doing three hundred tweets a day like it. You know, they're just not enough hours in the day. So so in that sense, yeah, that it totally makes sense. It's also like, look, you know, you can't just like think your way around everything. You know, Elon Musk has this idea that you know, by his force of will and his personality, he's somehow going to be able to vylaws, to fi laws of physics. But the fact is, like this mining digging tunnels requires all of these complicated issues that Elon Musk can't Elon Musk.

Especially if you're running, you know, six companies at a time and doing three hundred tweets a day like it. You know, they're just not enough hours in the day. So so in that sense, yeah, that it totally makes sense. It's also like, look, you know, you can't just like think your way around everything. You know, Elon Musk has this idea that you know, by his force of will and his personality, he's somehow going to be able to vylaws, to fi laws of physics. But the fact is, like this mining digging tunnels requires all of these complicated issues that Elon Musk can't Elon Musk.

His way around. Now. The problem is, though, that the mythology around him demands that each one of these companies succeed.

His way around. Now. The problem is, though, that the mythology around him demands that each one of these companies succeed.

I think a lot of the employees, despite the risks, are very proud of what they've done. I think they like the skull of connecting Las Vegas underground with tunnels. They're not averse to the goal and there Elon Musk has said in the past that he'd like the tunnels to one day help colonization of Mars. So there is a big, grander goal. If you're looking for.

I think a lot of the employees, despite the risks, are very proud of what they've done. I think they like the skull of connecting Las Vegas underground with tunnels. They're not averse to the goal and there Elon Musk has said in the past that he'd like the tunnels to one day help colonization of Mars. So there is a big, grander goal. If you're looking for.

It, we're going to wrap it up there. It was a great piece that you can find in Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Sarah McBride, thank you for joining us again. And as soon as you have a neurlink update, you will holler at us.

It, we're going to wrap it up there. It was a great piece that you can find in Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Sarah McBride, thank you for joining us again. And as soon as you have a neurlink update, you will holler at us.

You'll be first to know.

You'll be first to know.

Okay, so we've got Hannah Elliott on. Hannah reviews cars for us here at Bloomberg and she's also the co host of a podcast all about cars called Hot Pursuit. Welcome to the show, Hannah, Thanks so much so, Hannah. We initially talked about the cyber truck back in December when it was launched, and I feel like we were simultaneously fascinated and found it a little silly. This is what our guy, mister chaff In sort of speaking for all of us, had to say about it back then.

Okay, so we've got Hannah Elliott on. Hannah reviews cars for us here at Bloomberg and she's also the co host of a podcast all about cars called Hot Pursuit. Welcome to the show, Hannah, Thanks so much so, Hannah. We initially talked about the cyber truck back in December when it was launched, and I feel like we were simultaneously fascinated and found it a little silly. This is what our guy, mister chaff In sort of speaking for all of us, had to say about it back then.

You know, if you're reading cat Turd and you're watching those SpaceX launches, you are going to buy a cyber truck. But the truth is that is a narrow constituency. The big constituency are these kind of sensible car buyers, and that is a group he is not speaking to right now now.

You know, if you're reading cat Turd and you're watching those SpaceX launches, you are going to buy a cyber truck. But the truth is that is a narrow constituency. The big constituency are these kind of sensible car buyers, and that is a group he is not speaking to right now now.

Hannah, I don't know if you read cat turd or if you stare wrapped at SpaceX launches, but in your review for US you call the cyber truck a pn to brutalism that you absolutely loved.

Hannah, I don't know if you read cat turd or if you stare wrapped at SpaceX launches, but in your review for US you call the cyber truck a pn to brutalism that you absolutely loved.

Explain, Yes, I would say, certainly, it's a polarizing looking vehicle, and I myself have been extremely skeptical of it for all of the reasons that we already know, and we've been talking about it since twenty nineteen or before, so it's kind of just like, oh, get it over with already, We're already done. But to answer your question, I have to say I found it really refreshing in a way because everything looks the same on the road, you know, so many new cars are ubiquitous, and the amount of happy and emotional reactions that it caused from people on the street was really endearing and exciting. And I believe that cars should be fun and should make people happy.

Explain, Yes, I would say, certainly, it's a polarizing looking vehicle, and I myself have been extremely skeptical of it for all of the reasons that we already know, and we've been talking about it since twenty nineteen or before, so it's kind of just like, oh, get it over with already, We're already done. But to answer your question, I have to say I found it really refreshing in a way because everything looks the same on the road, you know, so many new cars are ubiquitous, and the amount of happy and emotional reactions that it caused from people on the street was really endearing and exciting. And I believe that cars should be fun and should make people happy.

I think at one point you said it was like being a celebrity being chased by the PROPARAZZI. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But you have many, many more friends, now that's true.

I think at one point you said it was like being a celebrity being chased by the PROPARAZZI. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But you have many, many more friends, now that's true.

I don't know if this was a mistake or not, but at the time I thought it would be a great ata to take it to Hollywood home depot on a Friday afternoon. I mean, this is a work truck, right, I put my dog in it, and I thought I need to go get a palm tree in a pot. I'll take it to home depot. And I have to tell you I kind of got run out of home by the amount of people walking up, circling it, wanting to, you know, quote unquote help me load into the truck, trying to get inside. It was was honestly a little too much, and so I've been a hasty retreat from home depot. But pretty fun.

I don't know if this was a mistake or not, but at the time I thought it would be a great ata to take it to Hollywood home depot on a Friday afternoon. I mean, this is a work truck, right, I put my dog in it, and I thought I need to go get a palm tree in a pot. I'll take it to home depot. And I have to tell you I kind of got run out of home by the amount of people walking up, circling it, wanting to, you know, quote unquote help me load into the truck, trying to get inside. It was was honestly a little too much, and so I've been a hasty retreat from home depot. But pretty fun.

Do you have any I know you were mostly driving. You're driving on the roads. There have been all these videos. I'm sure you've seen some of them on TikTok. It's like it's basically like a cyber truck trying to climb a hill. That like a Honda Odyssey could get up easily, and the cyber truck is, you know, struggling. It's essentially like showing that this may not be a capable.

Do you have any I know you were mostly driving. You're driving on the roads. There have been all these videos. I'm sure you've seen some of them on TikTok. It's like it's basically like a cyber truck trying to climb a hill. That like a Honda Odyssey could get up easily, and the cyber truck is, you know, struggling. It's essentially like showing that this may not be a capable.

Off road vehicle.

Off road vehicle.

Or do you have any thoughts on whether that is true or how true that might be and how big a factor that's going to be for people who are going to buy something like this.

Or do you have any thoughts on whether that is true or how true that might be and how big a factor that's going to be for people who are going to buy something like this.

Yes, I will say that I actually rented this truck from Turo, the car sharing app, and James, who was the man who owned it, asked that I not take it off road. So that's that's one reason why I did not take it off road. Admittedly, the cyber truck is extremely untested an off roader or any sort of real, actual sort of work site or farm ranch conditions. I don't for a second think that most people who buy a cyber truck will be taking it to Moab or will be loading up logs, you know, on the ranch or hey, bails. I really don't see that, you know, I don't see that with the Rivian electric truck, for instance.

Yes, I will say that I actually rented this truck from Turo, the car sharing app, and James, who was the man who owned it, asked that I not take it off road. So that's that's one reason why I did not take it off road. Admittedly, the cyber truck is extremely untested an off roader or any sort of real, actual sort of work site or farm ranch conditions. I don't for a second think that most people who buy a cyber truck will be taking it to Moab or will be loading up logs, you know, on the ranch or hey, bails. I really don't see that, you know, I don't see that with the Rivian electric truck, for instance.

No, I don't either, then, sho Hannah, who is this vehicle for?

No, I don't either, then, sho Hannah, who is this vehicle for?

This vehicle is for tech bros who love elon I mean, let's be honest, James, the guy who rented me one from Turo, said he has two more on order. He placed the order for this one during the unveiling in twenty nineteen. He already has orders in for two more. But I will say also last night I was at a dinner in Beverly Hills. There was a mother who was asking me about it and wanted to know if it would fit h child seat in the back. So I was surprised because I thought this was going to be tech bro central, and it does pull in interest from moms in Beverly Hills that you know, you wouldn't expect would even care about it. So there are some some some unexpected fans, potential fans. But I think to answer your question, it's it's fans of Elon, fans of Tesla.

This vehicle is for tech bros who love elon I mean, let's be honest, James, the guy who rented me one from Turo, said he has two more on order. He placed the order for this one during the unveiling in twenty nineteen. He already has orders in for two more. But I will say also last night I was at a dinner in Beverly Hills. There was a mother who was asking me about it and wanted to know if it would fit h child seat in the back. So I was surprised because I thought this was going to be tech bro central, and it does pull in interest from moms in Beverly Hills that you know, you wouldn't expect would even care about it. So there are some some some unexpected fans, potential fans. But I think to answer your question, it's it's fans of Elon, fans of Tesla.

So what's the like when you think historically, like what's a parallel here?

So what's the like when you think historically, like what's a parallel here?

Is it?

Is it?

Like the hum is it the h H two? Is that right?

Like the hum is it the h H two? Is that right?

Like?

Like?

Because we were talking about like what's the.

Because we were talking about like what's the.

Best case scenario for this thing, and David sort of floated like I think on an earlier episode that it could be like the Hummer. It could have like a cultural moment in the same way. Eye catching, gigantic, obnoxious, but maybe kind of cool.

Best case scenario for this thing, and David sort of floated like I think on an earlier episode that it could be like the Hummer. It could have like a cultural moment in the same way. Eye catching, gigantic, obnoxious, but maybe kind of cool.

Yeah, I definitely think it'll be a collector item. I mean, the Delorean's a collector item. The DeLorean had a short life span, but people still know it and love it. It's kind of like a truck version of the DeLorean, if you remember the car from Back to the Future.

Yeah, I definitely think it'll be a collector item. I mean, the Delorean's a collector item. The DeLorean had a short life span, but people still know it and love it. It's kind of like a truck version of the DeLorean, if you remember the car from Back to the Future.

It was interesting in your column when everyone should read it. I thought it was terrific. We do know that Musk desperately wanted a futuristic look with this vehicle. But you say, at first sight it screamed nostalgic, not futuristic to you.

It was interesting in your column when everyone should read it. I thought it was terrific. We do know that Musk desperately wanted a futuristic look with this vehicle. But you say, at first sight it screamed nostalgic, not futuristic to you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Absolutely, I mean it looks like something from Blade Runner. It looks like the DeLorean. Stainless steel is not a new technology, you know. The fabrication, this is not new or revolutionary fabrication at all. It's kind of the opposite. None of this is new. And the truck, you know, it's multiple years late. So if anything, it's actually outdated and behind and nostalgic. There's nothing actually futuristic about it, you know.

Absolutely, I mean it looks like something from Blade Runner. It looks like the DeLorean. Stainless steel is not a new technology, you know. The fabrication, this is not new or revolutionary fabrication at all. It's kind of the opposite. None of this is new. And the truck, you know, it's multiple years late. So if anything, it's actually outdated and behind and nostalgic. There's nothing actually futuristic about it, you know.

Max. She did indeed have a lot of great lines in this piece. I think this might have been my favorite she wrote, it looks like a cross between a Tanka toy and an adolescent video gamer's ultimate fantasy machine. Not necessarily amateur, but a bit ridiculous. Wow, Hannah, like that's quite a bit. Now tell me this ultimately, What did you like the most and dislike the most?

Max. She did indeed have a lot of great lines in this piece. I think this might have been my favorite she wrote, it looks like a cross between a Tanka toy and an adolescent video gamer's ultimate fantasy machine. Not necessarily amateur, but a bit ridiculous. Wow, Hannah, like that's quite a bit. Now tell me this ultimately, What did you like the most and dislike the most?

I have to say what I liked the most about it was how it drove, and a lot of it had to do with how surprised I was about the rear wheel steering and the ability for it to navigate small areas like parking lots. I threw it to the valets at Chateau Marmont for lunch just.

I have to say what I liked the most about it was how it drove, and a lot of it had to do with how surprised I was about the rear wheel steering and the ability for it to navigate small areas like parking lots. I threw it to the valets at Chateau Marmont for lunch just.

Because I wanted to test how did they handle it.

Because I wanted to test how did they handle it.

They didn't bat an eye, and that parking garage is very small and awkward. But the truck is it's very long, it's almost nineteen feet long. But because of the rear wheel steering, it's actually the turning radius is really good and nimble. Visibility I thought was surprisingly good, and so actually the driving, you know, it's obviously it's fast. It's a six hundred horse power vehicle with instant torque. None of this is new or revolutionary. Again, you know, it's like other electric big electric vehicles. But it was honestly, it was fun to drive and from the inside I kind of forgot how it looked on the outside, So it was fun, and you know, I didn't really worry about range. I got it with about three hundred and forty miles on the battery and gave it back with about two hundred.

They didn't bat an eye, and that parking garage is very small and awkward. But the truck is it's very long, it's almost nineteen feet long. But because of the rear wheel steering, it's actually the turning radius is really good and nimble. Visibility I thought was surprisingly good, and so actually the driving, you know, it's obviously it's fast. It's a six hundred horse power vehicle with instant torque. None of this is new or revolutionary. Again, you know, it's like other electric big electric vehicles. But it was honestly, it was fun to drive and from the inside I kind of forgot how it looked on the outside, So it was fun, and you know, I didn't really worry about range. I got it with about three hundred and forty miles on the battery and gave it back with about two hundred.

So yeah, so it's supposed to get three hundred and forty miles per charge? Is that your sense after having given it a spin for twenty four hours? And by the way, I did note in your piece that renting it for twenty four hours it cost you one three hundred and ninety one dollars, not cheap. But tell me about the range. Did it seem like you were going to really get that those three hundred and forty miles.

So yeah, so it's supposed to get three hundred and forty miles per charge? Is that your sense after having given it a spin for twenty four hours? And by the way, I did note in your piece that renting it for twenty four hours it cost you one three hundred and ninety one dollars, not cheap. But tell me about the range. Did it seem like you were going to really get that those three hundred and forty miles.

No, those are not real world miles. I mean anything you'd do, including even raising the truck height from sort of low to a higher ride height that reduces range.

No, those are not real world miles. I mean anything you'd do, including even raising the truck height from sort of low to a higher ride height that reduces range.

And your biggest dislike.

And your biggest dislike.

To be honest, the reason why I wouldn't be able to personally buy the cyber truck is because of Elon. And you know, I know in my piece, I say, we let's suspend what we really think about the man who created the truck. But for me personally, I couldn't justify giving him my money.

To be honest, the reason why I wouldn't be able to personally buy the cyber truck is because of Elon. And you know, I know in my piece, I say, we let's suspend what we really think about the man who created the truck. But for me personally, I couldn't justify giving him my money.

So Hannah, just just following up on that, taking your framing from the story. If you if you suspend disbelief about Elan or or you know, pretend pretend like it's Elon is just a completely normal person who doesn't tweet three hundred times a day.

So Hannah, just just following up on that, taking your framing from the story. If you if you suspend disbelief about Elan or or you know, pretend pretend like it's Elon is just a completely normal person who doesn't tweet three hundred times a day.

What was like your what? What's the other?

What was like your what? What's the other?

You know? What? I hated about it the shifting And this won't be a surprise to anyone who's driven a tesla. I hate the on screen shifting where you use your finger to slide into drive and then slide into reverse. It's just like, give me something a little bit more tangible and engaging than moving an icon with my finger.

You know? What? I hated about it the shifting And this won't be a surprise to anyone who's driven a tesla. I hate the on screen shifting where you use your finger to slide into drive and then slide into reverse. It's just like, give me something a little bit more tangible and engaging than moving an icon with my finger.

I gotta say, the one thing that really jumped out me, not just reading your piece, but listening to you again now, is it got It seems like the crowd around you was almost suffocating. It almost speaks to the fact that, like you've gotta goad, you'd want to let these things get out in the wild more, more, more properly, and let others put up with that. And then if you are so inclined to buy one and then you get one in a year or so.

I gotta say, the one thing that really jumped out me, not just reading your piece, but listening to you again now, is it got It seems like the crowd around you was almost suffocating. It almost speaks to the fact that, like you've gotta goad, you'd want to let these things get out in the wild more, more, more properly, and let others put up with that. And then if you are so inclined to buy one and then you get one in a year or so.

I definitely think that's true. And it's you know, like I say in the piece, it's not something you want to drive if you're not feeling especially friendly or talkative that day, or if you're a shy person.

I definitely think that's true. And it's you know, like I say in the piece, it's not something you want to drive if you're not feeling especially friendly or talkative that day, or if you're a shy person.

Just the way people reacted to it when Hannah drove it around, that might be telling us something like maybe there are maybe there are ultimately more buyers out there for seventy seven thousand dollars a pop. Then we think, Hen Elliott, thank you so much for joining us.

Just the way people reacted to it when Hannah drove it around, that might be telling us something like maybe there are maybe there are ultimately more buyers out there for seventy seven thousand dollars a pop. Then we think, Hen Elliott, thank you so much for joining us.

Thanks guys.

Thanks guys.

Okay, so we're gonna wrap up here today with a segment we like to bring back periodically, Feud of the Week. Mister Chaffkin, you are going to tell us about our few to the week. I will be honest. I know it's about pies. That is the extent of my knowledge doing.

Okay, so we're gonna wrap up here today with a segment we like to bring back periodically, Feud of the Week. Mister Chaffkin, you are going to tell us about our few to the week. I will be honest. I know it's about pies. That is the extent of my knowledge doing.

Okay, we've done Elon versus Mark Cuban, Elon versus very very fighting against. Now it's Elon versus the owner of giving pies a San Jose pie shop.

Okay, we've done Elon versus Mark Cuban, Elon versus very very fighting against. Now it's Elon versus the owner of giving pies a San Jose pie shop.

Pies in the in the sense of like apple beef with the pie guy.

Pies in the in the sense of like apple beef with the pie guy.

So so the beef started on Valentine's Day, ironically, when Tesla ordered a big order I think was two thousand pies from the Giving Pie.

So so the beef started on Valentine's Day, ironically, when Tesla ordered a big order I think was two thousand pies from the Giving Pie.

I don't know, two thousands a lot. I think there was. There are mini pies, so, but the two thousand pies.

I don't know, two thousands a lot. I think there was. There are mini pies, so, but the two thousand pies.

It was a short notice order, and and the owner of the Giving Pie said, okay, well I'm gonna you know, this is small.

It was a short notice order, and and the owner of the Giving Pie said, okay, well I'm gonna you know, this is small.

I looked, I went to their website.

I looked, I went to their website.

This is a small company, you know, going to bring in all five or how many employees, and.

This is a small company, you know, going to bring in all five or how many employees, and.

Definitely they're going to work over the weekend.

Definitely they're going to work over the weekend.

And and sometime in interim, Kesla canceled the order in a in a very ungentlemanly fashioned by text. This somehow got out and as a result, first of all, a lot of people felt bad for the Giving Pie owner, and I think she experienced a spike in sales, people trying to, you know, make up.

And and sometime in interim, Kesla canceled the order in a in a very ungentlemanly fashioned by text. This somehow got out and as a result, first of all, a lot of people felt bad for the Giving Pie owner, and I think she experienced a spike in sales, people trying to, you know, make up.

For the sixteen lost.

For the sixteen lost.

And even Elon Musk seems to have had second thoughts, and he tweeted that he's going to make things right with the Giving Pie.

And even Elon Musk seems to have had second thoughts, and he tweeted that he's going to make things right with the Giving Pie.

We don't wait away. What kind of a feud is this? Then?

We don't wait away. What kind of a feud is this? Then?

Well, I mean he canceled the pie order.

Well, I mean he canceled the pie order.

First of all, we don't know that he canceled it. He's trying to make it right.

First of all, we don't know that he canceled it. He's trying to make it right.

David, I think we know. I think we know who canceled this pieca.

David, I think we know. I think we know who canceled this pieca.

Okay, so he's promised to make things right ergo okay, give me your pies.

Okay, so he's promised to make things right ergo okay, give me your pies.

And well, no, no, no, he hasn't taken the pies.

And well, no, no, no, he hasn't taken the pies.

And that's kind of one of the things that makes me think this feud could go on because the owner of the pie shot pointedly said that she does not know how he's going to make it right.

And that's kind of one of the things that makes me think this feud could go on because the owner of the pie shot pointedly said that she does not know how he's going to make it right.

She hasn't heard or anything further.

She hasn't heard or anything further.

So we have yet to see, you know, what the exact how this all shakes out. But yes, there is a potential resolution on the horizon. For me, the big couple big questions. Get hit me with your best theories and how we got here.

So we have yet to see, you know, what the exact how this all shakes out. But yes, there is a potential resolution on the horizon. For me, the big couple big questions. Get hit me with your best theories and how we got here.

So okay, number one question is who canceled the order?

So okay, number one question is who canceled the order?

And I think, as I said, I think all signs everything we know about Elon Musk and Tesla and how he manages the company points to the man himself. And you know, this is a big I think it was something like fourteen thousand dollars or something sixteen thousand dollars, you know, Tesla, As we know, it's, as a Musk put it euphemistically recently, between.

And I think, as I said, I think all signs everything we know about Elon Musk and Tesla and how he manages the company points to the man himself. And you know, this is a big I think it was something like fourteen thousand dollars or something sixteen thousand dollars, you know, Tesla, As we know, it's, as a Musk put it euphemistically recently, between.

Growth waves, they're really trying to rein in costs. It does not. It would not surprise me.

Growth waves, they're really trying to rein in costs. It does not. It would not surprise me.

It would not shock me if Elon Musk or somebody close to him saw this sixteen thousand dollars line item and said, that's a lot of pies.

It would not shock me if Elon Musk or somebody close to him saw this sixteen thousand dollars line item and said, that's a lot of pies.

What the heck?

What the heck?

Like?

Like?

We are not spending sixteen thousand dollars on pies, like know all that, but the giving pie, you know, it's it mostly sells to other It seems like it does a lot of business with other tech companies. You know, it might signify, you know, everything that he thinks of is wrong about Silicon Valley culture, you know, plying its applying workers with these high end pies.

We are not spending sixteen thousand dollars on pies, like know all that, but the giving pie, you know, it's it mostly sells to other It seems like it does a lot of business with other tech companies. You know, it might signify, you know, everything that he thinks of is wrong about Silicon Valley culture, you know, plying its applying workers with these high end pies.

So that's my suspicion.

So that's my suspicion.

And then I think the other question, really important question, which may have been the question that Elon Musk was asking, is why did they order these pies?

And then I think the other question, really important question, which may have been the question that Elon Musk was asking, is why did they order these pies?

What were the pies?

What were the pies?

Was this just like the Munchies?

Was this just like the Munchies?

Now?

Now?

I was talking to Dana Hall, our colleague and you know podcast panelists, and she was saying, well, maybe it was for Pie Day, which is March fourteenth, But that is a long Valentine's Day is a long way from pie Day, and that would be inconsistent with the last minute nature of this order. So maybe it was a President's Day.

I was talking to Dana Hall, our colleague and you know podcast panelists, and she was saying, well, maybe it was for Pie Day, which is March fourteenth, But that is a long Valentine's Day is a long way from pie Day, and that would be inconsistent with the last minute nature of this order. So maybe it was a President's Day.

I don't know.

I don't know.

So anyway, we've got Okay, so we've got a lot of questions, We've got very few answers. I'm going to guess in the Pantheona Musk feuds Man, this has got a rank low Max, right, this isn't even top one hundred.

So anyway, we've got Okay, so we've got a lot of questions, We've got very few answers. I'm going to guess in the Pantheona Musk feuds Man, this has got a rank low Max, right, this isn't even top one hundred.

No, I mean I think he really this This was like a real, nearly a disastrous, you know, pr thing for him. Luckily he stepped in and you know, about to make things right because it is very messy.

No, I mean I think he really this This was like a real, nearly a disastrous, you know, pr thing for him. Luckily he stepped in and you know, about to make things right because it is very messy.

The you know this could be.

The you know this could be.

You don't want to make an enemy of a friendly local pie shop.

You don't want to make an enemy of a friendly local pie shop.

I mean that's a very that's you know, may enemies with Bob Iger is one thing, but like you don't take people like pies.

I mean that's a very that's you know, may enemies with Bob Iger is one thing, but like you don't take people like pies.

I love pies. Same, Okay, mister Chaffkin, Enough of the pie talk. Let's end it there. Thanks for listening to elon Ink and thanks for joining me. Max.

I love pies. Same, Okay, mister Chaffkin, Enough of the pie talk. Let's end it there. Thanks for listening to elon Ink and thanks for joining me. Max.

Great to be here.

Great to be here.

This episode was produced by Stacy Wang, Naomi Shaven, and Rayhan Harmanci are our senior editors. The idea for this very show also came from Rayhan Blake Maple's handles engineering, and we get special editing assistants from Jeff Grocott. Our supervising producer is Magnus Hendrickson Huge Thing as always to Joel Weber. The elon Ink theme is written and performed by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Sugiura. Sage Bauman is ahead of Bloomberg Podcast and our executive producer I am David Papadopoulos. If you have a minute, rate and review our show, it'll help other listeners find us. See you next week

This episode was produced by Stacy Wang, Naomi Shaven, and Rayhan Harmanci are our senior editors. The idea for this very show also came from Rayhan Blake Maple's handles engineering, and we get special editing assistants from Jeff Grocott. Our supervising producer is Magnus Hendrickson Huge Thing as always to Joel Weber. The elon Ink theme is written and performed by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Sugiura. Sage Bauman is ahead of Bloomberg Podcast and our executive producer I am David Papadopoulos. If you have a minute, rate and review our show, it'll help other listeners find us. See you next week