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Autoblog editors come clean about their controversial automotive beliefs

We all have controversial opinions. Be it whether you think the Nissan Juke is actually pretty attractive, manual transmissions aren't always better, or you honestly didn't hate the Pontiac Aztek, we all harbor some persuasion, be it big or small, for which we catch copious flak upon expression.
In recognizing that all of us here at Autoblog harbor at least one viewpoint that stubbornly goes against the grain of popular opinion among auto enthusiasts, we've decided to come clean with them right here, proudly speaking our minds in a mature, structured manner - a striking contrast to how these things tend to come up while debated in the office.
We'd also like to invite you to share your unpopular and controversial opinions with us and the Autoblog faithful down in Comments. Don't be ashamed - this is a safe place.

Non-union Tesla now owns former Fremont UAW Hall

As a growing business, it's hardly surprising that Tesla desires to own more land around its Fremont, CA, factory, but the electric carmaker's latest property purchase is just a little ironic. Tesla's assembly workers might not be unionized (at least not yet), but their employer now owns the former United Auto Workers union hall in Fremont, CA, just down the street from the plant. According to public records uncovered by the San Francisco Business Times, the company recently bought the property for an undisclosed sum. The UAW was reportedly asking $4.26 million for the nearly four-acre plot, including the 16,470-square-foot building. About 1.3 acres of the land is still undeveloped. According to the San Francisco Business Times, this appears to be Tesla's first land purchase in the area since it bought 35 acres from the Union Pacific Railroad in 2013, which included a test track left over from the NUMMI plant. However, the company has been leasing more property near its Fremont base recently. Autoblog has reached out to Tesla to learn what its plans are for the land. We'll update this story if we hear back. News Source: San Francisco Business Times Image Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Green Plants/Manufacturing UAW/Unions Tesla Green Automakers Electric Sedan California nummi fremont

Tesla: Earnings still down, but rate of Model S production way up

According to its Third Quarter 2012 Shareholder Letter, Tesla "is now at over 200 cars per week or 10,000 cars per year, which is at the critical threshold needed for Tesla to generate positive operating cash flow."
That's an important milestone to be sure, but the news is actually even better; Tesla expects to ramp Model S production up to 400 cars per week (20,000 units/year) by December of 2012, and says it will deliver 2,500 to 3,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2012. That's lower than the previous target of 5,000 in 2012, but it's more an issue of delayed achievement rather than missing the mark altogether.
All of that production bodes well for the future, but as of today, the automaker has yet to earn real money. Revenue for the third quarter of 2012 was $50 million, equating to a net loss of about $110 million after expenses were tallied. The stock market likes the numbers, with TSLA shares rising 8.9 percent on Monday after the report was released.