Low Cost Strategy
-
Elon Dreams and Bitter Lessons
SpaceX’s triumph is downstream of a dream and getting the cost structure necessary to make it happen; Elon Musk is trying the same approach for Tesla self-driving cars
-
Tesla’s Robotaxi Event, Tesla Self-Driving 12.5 Experience, Starlink and Airlines
Tesla has a Robotaxi event, and its current self-driving software is impressive. It’s still Level 2, though, and has a long way to go to match Waymo. Starlink, meanwhile, is an example of how Musk alters market structure to win.
-
TSMC Earnings, TSMC’s Pricing Mistake, Intel v. TSMC
TSMC earnings and Taiwan’s margin impact, why the company left money on the table (which might have cost the chairman his job), and Intel’s relative risk-taking.
-
The iPhone SE, Accounting for the iPhone SE, New iPhones
The new iPhone SE inspires a revisit to Apple’s low-end strategy, which may simply be a matter of accounting. Then, Apple may be launching new iPhones despite the coronavirus.
-
Brandless Closes, The DTC Facebook Challenge, DTC Versus Softbank
Brandless is closing down, which is being spun into a commentary on Softbank. This is fair, but the bigger takeaway is about DTC broadly.
-
Apple-WeChat Follow-up, Windows 10 S and the Education Market
Apple was never in a position to respond to WeChat, just as Microsoft couldn’t respond to Google. Then, Chromebooks win in education for more reasons than cost.
-
Amazon Shutters Quidsi, Amazon and CPG Companies, Amazon and Wal-Mart
Amazon is shutting down Quidsi, and taking the fight for CPG goods to Wal-Mart.
-
Apple Announcements, iPhone Strategy vs iPod Strategy, Clips
Apple had several announcements that were relatively boring from a product perspective but very interesting when it comes to strategy. Plus, its new “Clips” app may point to new products in the future.
-
Walmart and the Multichannel Trap
Walmart wasted years trying to retrofit their model to ecommerce. Buying Jet.com will give them a better chance, but it’s almost certainly too late to compete with Amazon.