Volkswagen tried but Musk shot specifically shot it down on hubris, despite VW's cash and manufacturing capacity being the solution to Tesla's problems at the time.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/public-bravado-private-doubts-h...

> Musk specifically shot it down on hubris

This, of course, will ultimately catch up with Musk, just like it did for Jobs.

Elon success relies on the same 'distortion reality' shield that Jobs relied on. It forces his staff to keep trying to achieve his practically impossible demands.

Continued success requires that it keep working over and over while not burning out critical staff and burning through your investor's deep pockets.

How did it catch up with Jobs? Apple still makes the best phones and the most cash 5 years after his death. Like, Jobs is still so far ahead, no one even tries to catch up.

Jobs was kicked out from his own company after a rebellion he started. His own people decided to kick him out after they heard his arguments and the arguments of the person he wanted to oust. He had to wallow away at Next for more than a decade before he came back.

1997 Jobs was a way more humble and realistic version than 1984 Jobs. And that probably made him a better manager and CEO.

Don’t forget luck / timing.

This makes the most sense. Buy the tech and the brand and then build them properly.

Funny to think that a company that has been around for much longer can’t compete with Tesla and they would be the ones to “build them properly”.