Core Memory He Bought The First Tesla Roadster 2 In 2013 - EP 42 Konstantin Othmer
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Nov 6, 2025 Konstantin Othmer, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and early Tesla investor, shares his journey of buying the first Roadster 2 and his experiences with Elon Musk. He recounts pivotal moments, from meeting Tesla's founders to securing signature models. Konstantin discusses the excitement around the Roadster 2 launch, speculating on its unique features, including the possibility of flying. The duo also explores the implications of early reservations, the collector's market, and the challenges of hardware investing.
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Walking Into Tesla's Early Garage
- Konstantin Othmer recounts spontaneously visiting Tesla's early garage and meeting Elon and Martin, then joining the 'Tesla club' to get a Roadster.
- He describes being given a prototype drive, joining as an investor, and later receiving Roadster #50 in signature green.
The Zero VIN Demand
- Konstantin explains negotiating to get the Model S 'founder's' allocation after insisting on a special VIN (he wanted zero).
- He ultimately received Founders #10 and a factory handover experience at NUMMI.
Battery Physics Favored All‑Electric
- Elon argued for pure electric cars because batteries trade off power density and energy capacity, favoring large battery packs.
- Konstantin reports this physics argument convinced investors to focus on all-electric vehicles over hybrids.