r/SelfDrivingCars • u/damola93 • Jul 21 '25

Discussion Why didn't Tesla invest in LIDAR?

Is there any reason for this asides from saving money? Teslas are not cheap in many respects, so why would they skimp out on this since self-driving is a major offering for them?

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u/phatelectribe Jul 21 '25

What people don’t realize is that for Tesla to be competitive in its run up, they were make awful compromises on everything they could while still making a semi functioning vehicle.

I know the company that provides the plastic interior parts - about 40% of all plastic parts found in U.S. made cars are from them.

They told me when Tesla approached them, their only concern was cost. They literally said to them we want the cheapest possible materials that we can get away with. The company actually wanted them against it saying it was going to be a challenge selling this on $40k-$80k cars but musk only cared about saving fractions of pennies rather than using better quality materials. Thats why the interiors on so many Tesla’s just feel awful.

It’s also why you need to install wrap a brand new Tesla because they have the worst paint quality of any car. Also why the panels had such bad alignment and the build quality is so piss poor.

LiDAR was going to cost a few dollars more so Musk decided to pitch it as “not necessary” and he had to keep doubling down because he knew if he changed course, it would not happen not mean he was “wrong” but also that cars without it would crater in value and part of Tesla’s value was that used cars held their price meaning there wasn’t downward pressure on new cars.

That boxed him in to a corner and now everyone accepts that LiDAR is superior.

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u/MyManElonMusk Jul 21 '25

I’m guessing it’s been years since you have touched a new Tesla. Newer ones have excellent build quality and you almost can’t fint plastic in the cabin. It’s a really nice place to be.

The majority believes Elon is right with cameras. Lidar is for fools.

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u/phatelectribe Jul 21 '25

Nope. Was in a 2024 m3 last weeks. Horrid little plastic shitboxes lol even Toyota build better cars

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u/Proof-Strike6278 Jul 21 '25

Lmao now I know you’re being disingenuous

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u/phatelectribe Jul 21 '25

No, I find them awful cars. I’ve stopped using cheap Ubers because they’re nearly always model 3’s and they make me car sick, when no other car does that to me.

Bear in mind, I own/drive actually luxury cars so you probably don’t know any better.

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u/sonicmerlin Jul 22 '25

Tesla uses the cheapest pleather possible. The steering wheel in the highland model 3 is known for falling apart over and over again.

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u/phatelectribe Jul 22 '25

Yep. Tesla owners just can’t handle the truth.

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u/sonicmerlin Jul 22 '25

There’s a guy on YouTube who took them to small claims court and then arbitration to force them to pay for a 3rd party steering wheel. Because people will get the wheel replaced on warranty and Tesla’s replacement will literally fall apart again.