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[Apriliarsv]

Are there any tax credits or something that would make a Mfg want to buy Zero?

If several motorcycle companies drop ebikes Zero might be dead.

[Erasmo]

If a stated wants a compliance motor perhaps.

[CrashCash]

Are there any tax credits or something that would make a Mfg want to buy Zero?

No, but they've got a metric assload of very important Intellectual Property in patents, their battery/BMS/motor tech, trade secrets, and experience in what NOT to do making an e-bike. That stuff's important and expensive.

For example, you don't see any diagrams or cutaways of the new motor with the new cooling tech, do you? Or anything beyond vague handwaving explanations.

That's the sort of thing an established ICE company like Honda or Kawasaki would want.

Honda can replicate it all (like they're apparently doing now) or... just buy it by purchasing Zero.

However, then you need to integrate the e-bike technology into a company that's done ICE literally since WW-II and deal with the corporate mentality and way of doing things. Polaris seems to be finding this to be difficult. It looks like Brammo is an indigestible lump so far, seeing as how the new bike is pretty much unchanged.

So there's serious downsides as well as advantages.

[Xenoilphobe]

Tesla should buy them and integrate their product into their supercharger network.  Game, Set, Match!

[Erasmo]

For example, you don't see any diagrams or cutaways of the new motor with the new cooling tech, do you? Or anything beyond vague handwaving explanations.

That's the sort of thing an established ICE company like Honda or Kawasaki would want.

They're probably eagerly awaiting the first 2016 Zero's at their chops so they can dissect them.

[Justin Andrews]

Tesla should buy them and integrate their product into their supercharger network.  Game, Set, Match!

Tesla are not interested in motorbikes, can't hold an atmosphere, no use on Mars...

[Erasmo]

Or behind a VW

[Richard230]

I keep thinking that Zero "carbon credits" might be worth something to somebody that wants to keep polluting.   

[SteveInNC]

Tesla should buy them and integrate their product into their supercharger network.  Game, Set, Match!

Tesla is still in start-up mode themselves. Considering their $290M loss last year I'd say they're out of the buying market.


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[vchampain]

For me the issue is not so much about the product or about making a loss, than about the service delivery. Uber invested billions and is still losing money. You can be independently funded and have an agressive market approach.

Where big companies really have a competitive advantage, it is about service - see BMW. They did 10x what Zero did with their new (and expensive) scooter. First because they targeted the highest volume 125 cc market (which Zero XU did when it was still proposed). Second because you know that if you have issues, you'll find a large network of BMW dealer. This is also where Polaris' acquisition of Brammo could make sense.

Tesla has a specific network and a "zero concern" policy. Zero should either do the same, or let other do it but ensure that both delivery (ie training or skype-supporting remote dealers, which they do) and experience (ensuring that anybody with an issue get a replacement or a compensation) are great. Sure that's a little more expensive, but in the long term the company's survival entirely depends on this.



V

[Justin Andrews]

Tesla should buy them and integrate their product into their supercharger network.  Game, Set, Match!

Tesla is still in start-up mode themselves. Considering their $290M loss last year I'd say they're out of the buying market.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh Tesla are in right in the middle of a buying market, just not for other companies.
Think about what Tesla are buying right now, Tesla's "losses" are investments, mostly the giga-factory, and buying and rolling out some of the more powerful chargers, and charging infrastructure, in and across the world.

[Richard230]

Tesla should buy them and integrate their product into their supercharger network.  Game, Set, Match!

Tesla is still in start-up mode themselves. Considering their $290M loss last year I'd say they're out of the buying market.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh Tesla are in right in the middle of a buying market, just not for other companies.
Think about what Tesla are buying right now, Tesla's "losses" are investments, mostly the giga-factory, and buying and rolling out some of the more powerful chargers, and charging infrastructure, in and across the world.

Tesla is definitely investing in the future.  I am not sure that is true of some other companies in the EV field.   

[modeselector]

Did anyone hear about Zero's 1 million round of funding in December? 

Not allot of money (in the scope compared to previous rounds).

Should this be a concern?

[benswing]

Did anyone hear about Zero's 1 million round of funding in December? 

Not allot of money (in the scope compared to previous rounds).

Should this be a concern?

That was a grant match from their (sole) investors for R&D, which is probably why it shows up in reports as $1M Venture.  The state of California gave them a grant for $1M, which their investor matched. 

http://recorderjournal.com/2015/12/12/zero-motorcycles-gets-1m-in-funding-from-california/

[Justin Andrews]

Did anyone hear about Zero's 1 million round of funding in December? 

Not allot of money (in the scope compared to previous rounds).

Should this be a concern?

I think that could also be seen as a case of "not turning down free money"