> They have 17 billion dollars in cash on hand, and paid off a lot of their pre existing debt.

Tesla total liabilities for the quarter ending March 31, 2022 were $31.091B, a 6.81% increase year-over-year.

So they may have paid off a lot of their pre existing debt and then went and borrowed even more money on different terms.

I don't really see why the comparison is comical. I need a box with wheels to get me from place to place like many Americans. Right now I've got a manual 2016 Chevy Cruze because I got a really good deal on it. I like the idea of my next car being electric so I'd probably be cross shopping a Bolt with a Model 3, but that idea made a lot more sense when the 3 was supposed to be $30K. Now the Bolt is going to be something like $27K and the 3 is what - close to $60K? I'm sure the model 3 is faster, but I drive in traffic so I don't get to go fast anyway. If Ford makes an electric Fiesta for a reasonable price I'll throw that in the mix. I'll gladly look at the Asian makers too if they come up with something - the Ioniq looks nice by all accounts.