--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Musk had never run a car factory before…" description: "\"“Musk had never run a car factory before and was considered arrogant and amateurish by Detroit. Yet, one year after the Model S went on sale, Tesla had..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/ashlee-vance-4672_elon-musk_musk-had-never-run-a-car-factory-before_2937457.jpg" --- # Musk had never run a car factory before and was considered… ![“Musk had never run a car factory before and was considered arrogant and amateurish by Detroit. Yet, one year after the Model S went on sale, Tesla had posted a profit, hit $562 million in quarterly revenue, raised its sales forecast, and become as valuable as Mazda Motor. Elon Musk had built the…” quote by Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/ashlee-vance-4672_elon-musk_musk-had-never-run-a-car-factory-before_2937457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/ashlee-vance-4672_elon-musk_musk-had-never-run-a-car-factory-before_2937457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/ashlee-vance-4672_elon-musk_musk-had-never-run-a-car-factory-before_2937457.jpg) > ““Musk had never run a car factory before and was considered arrogant and amateurish by Detroit. Yet, one year after the Model S went on sale, Tesla had posted a profit, hit $562 million in quarterly revenue, raised its sales forecast, and become as valuable as Mazda Motor. Elon Musk had built the automotive equivalent of the iPhone.”” [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Musk’s unconventional background didn’t stop Tesla from achieving rapid profit and market value, likening it to the iPhone’s impact. **In simple terms:** Musk succeeded despite inexperience. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, unconventional leadership. Themes innovation leadership disruption market dynamics Mood inspired analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - startup founders - investors - automotive industry - tech media Key Concepts entrepreneurship technology adoption strategic management Questions to Reflect On - What traits enable rapid disruption? - How to balance risk and reward? A Different Perspective Success may not be replicable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“During a time in which clean-tech businesses have gone bankrupt with alarming regularity, Musk has built two of the most successful clean-tech companies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/during-a-time-in-which-clean-tech-businesses-have-gone-bankrupt-with/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [Elon Musk is a remarkable individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/elon-musk-is-a-remarkable-individual/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [Elon Musk is an incredibly prolific entrepreneur, having come up with, or been at the founding team of Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity, PayPal, all different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/elon-musk-is-an-incredibly-prolific-entrepreneur-having-come-up-with/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [After reading the Elon Musk book and getting a Tesla - he is at the top of my list of inspiring founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/after-reading-the-elon-musk-book-and-getting-a-tesla-he-is-at-the-top/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) > [I wish I was as annotative as Elon Musk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/i-wish-i-was-as-annotative-as-elon-musk/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [I have no doubt that Elon Musk will be an active player with an important role in the new Argentina that is emerging from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/i-have-no-doubt-that-elon-musk-will-be-an-active-player-with-an/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [Elon Musk is an incredible leader and entrepreneur. I have known him since 1995 when he first came to Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/elon-musk-is-an-incredible-leader-and-entrepreneur-i-have-known-him/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [In my opinion Elon Musk is one of the most dangerous men on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/in-my-opinion-elon-musk-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-men-on-the-planet/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I'm a phenomenal fan of Elon Musk. I think he's the greatest. He's a disrupter, and I think he is a great marketer. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/i-m-a-phenomenal-fan-of-elon-musk-i-think-he-s-the-greatest-he-s-a/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [Elon Musk should be at the top of the list of people to emulate when it comes to leading large organizations that are highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/elon-musk-should-be-at-the-top-of-the-list-of-people-to-emulate-when/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [One of the reasons I'm excited by what visionary Elon Musk has done with the Tesla is to show that you can reduce global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/one-of-the-reasons-i-m-excited-by-what-visionary-elon-musk-has-done/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [Tesla burns cash. It's not a car company, it's a cult of fanatics who think Elon Musk can do no wrong. But financially, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lutz/tesla-burns-cash-it-s-not-a-car-company-it-s-a-cult-of-fanatics-who/) [Bob Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lutz/) > [If I were to point to the person who's having the greatest impact... I'd point to Elon Musk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/if-i-were-to-point-to-the-person-who-s-having-the-greatest-impact-i-d/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Elon Musk is a very, very smart man, but there are a lot of smart people in this world, and you've got to execute.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-eisman/elon-musk-is-a-very-very-smart-man-but-there-are-a-lot-of-smart/) [Steve Eisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-eisman/) > [“Elon Musk is well on his way to being one of history’s greatest environmental terrorists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/elon-musk-is-well-on-his-way-to-being-one-of-history-s-greatest/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Ashlee Vance > [“Thought Leadership “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” Book by Ashlee Vance “Take risks now and do something bold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/thought-leadership-elon-musk-tesla-spacex-and-the-quest-for-a/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“He points out that one of the really tough things is figuring out what questions to ask,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/he-points-out-that-one-of-the-really-tough-things-is-figuring-out/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Musk sits somewhere on the autism spectrum and that he has trouble considering other people’s emotions and caring about their well-being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/musk-sits-somewhere-on-the-autism-spectrum-and-that-he-has-trouble/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“He’s less a CEO chasing riches than a general marshaling troops to secure victory. Where Mark Zuckerberg wants to help you share baby photos,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/he-s-less-a-ceo-chasing-riches-than-a-general-marshaling-troops-to/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“sometimes at the Sheraton hotel in Palo Alto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/sometimes-at-the-sheraton-hotel-in-palo-alto/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Throughout these early years, the engineers credited Eberhard with making quick, crisp decisions. Rarely did Tesla get hung up overanalyzing a situation. The company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/throughout-these-early-years-the-engineers-credited-eberhard-with/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“When Musk is present, the chats tend toward the absurd and fantastic”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/when-musk-is-present-the-chats-tend-toward-the-absurd-and-fantastic/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Whereas if they change a rule and something good happens, they don’t even get a reward. So, it’s very asymmetric. It’s then very easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/whereas-if-they-change-a-rule-and-something-good-happens-they-don-t/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“I might have fixed that thing but now I’ve made the person unproductive. It just wasn’t a good way to go about things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/i-might-have-fixed-that-thing-but-now-i-ve-made-the-person/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Like Steve Jobs before him, Musk is able to think up things that consumers did not even know they wanted—the door handles, the giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/like-steve-jobs-before-him-musk-is-able-to-think-up-things-that/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Musk pulled Justine close while they danced, and informed her, “I am the alpha in this relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/musk-pulled-justine-close-while-they-danced-and-informed-her-i-am-the/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“for Musk, the distinction between stumbling into something and having intent is important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/for-musk-the-distinction-between-stumbling-into-something-and-having/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Well, we will decide we’re going into production and then a miracle is going to happen,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/well-we-will-decide-we-re-going-into-production-and-then-a-miracle-is/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“You don’t tell Elon you can’t do something. That will get you kicked out of the room”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/you-don-t-tell-elon-you-can-t-do-something-that-will-get-you-kicked/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [“Founded in June 2002, Space Exploration Technologies came to life in humble settings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/founded-in-june-2002-space-exploration-technologies-came-to-life-in/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) [Explore all 91 Ashlee Vance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) ## More Elon musk quotes > [“Thought Leadership “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” Book by Ashlee Vance “Take risks now and do something bold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/thought-leadership-elon-musk-tesla-spacex-and-the-quest-for-a/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [Elon Musk is a remarkable individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/elon-musk-is-a-remarkable-individual/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [Elon Musk is a very, very smart man, but there are a lot of smart people in this world, and you've got to execute.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-eisman/elon-musk-is-a-very-very-smart-man-but-there-are-a-lot-of-smart/) [Steve Eisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-eisman/) > [If I were to point to the person who's having the greatest impact... I'd point to Elon Musk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/if-i-were-to-point-to-the-person-who-s-having-the-greatest-impact-i-d/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [Tesla burns cash. It's not a car company, it's a cult of fanatics who think Elon Musk can do no wrong. But financially, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lutz/tesla-burns-cash-it-s-not-a-car-company-it-s-a-cult-of-fanatics-who/) [Bob Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lutz/) > [One of the reasons I'm excited by what visionary Elon Musk has done with the Tesla is to show that you can reduce global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/one-of-the-reasons-i-m-excited-by-what-visionary-elon-musk-has-done/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [“Amazingly, as of tonight, there aren’t many platforms left that allow free speech. The last big one remaining in the world, the only one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/amazingly-as-of-tonight-there-aren-t-many-platforms-left-that-allow/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [In the late spring of 2008, my wealthy entrepreneurial husband, Elon Musk, the father of my five young sons, filed for divorce. Six weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-musk/in-the-late-spring-of-2008-my-wealthy-entrepreneurial-husband-elon/) [Justine Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-musk/) > [Elon Musk should be at the top of the list of people to emulate when it comes to leading large organizations that are highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/elon-musk-should-be-at-the-top-of-the-list-of-people-to-emulate-when/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [“In a world full of Elon Musks, be a Dan Price.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-a-world-full-of-elon-musks-be-a-dan-price/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I'm a phenomenal fan of Elon Musk. I think he's the greatest. He's a disrupter, and I think he is a great marketer. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/i-m-a-phenomenal-fan-of-elon-musk-i-think-he-s-the-greatest-he-s-a/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [In my opinion Elon Musk is one of the most dangerous men on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/in-my-opinion-elon-musk-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-men-on-the-planet/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [Elon Musk is an incredible leader and entrepreneur. I have known him since 1995 when he first came to Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/elon-musk-is-an-incredible-leader-and-entrepreneur-i-have-known-him/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [Mark Zuckerberg talks about telepathy, and Elon Musk has invested in trying to create a brain-machine interface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-foer/mark-zuckerberg-talks-about-telepathy-and-elon-musk-has-invested-in/) [Franklin Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-foer/) > [No one has any idea what's going to happen. Not even Elon Musk. That's why he's building those rockets. He wants a 'Plan B'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/no-one-has-any-idea-what-s-going-to-happen-not-even-elon-musk-that-s/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) Browse all 42 Elon musk quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Musk had never run a car factory before and was considered arrogant and amateurish by Detroit. Yet, one year after the Model S went on sale, Tesla had posted a profit, hit $562 million in quarterly revenue, raised its sales forecast, and become as valuable as Mazda Motor. 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