It doesn't seem like a myth at all - tesla could be the Apple in that its vertically integrated w/ a tightly controlled supply chain and an ecosystem producing lock-in (superchargers), capturing the high end of the market and most of the profit in the industry.

GM and BWM would be the android device manufacturers - assembling 3rd party components, poorly differentiated, initially not competitive on quality but eventually catching up, while competition w/ each other prevents any of them from achieving profits comparable to Tesla.