Maximal value extraction is probably the answer. If more profit can be made in a given market/product combination through direct selling then this will be the model, if a commodity approach extracts more value then it will prevail. There should be a natural progression from the former to the latter as a market matures and buyer sophistication increases. In the case of cars the purchase is infrequent and specialized enough that the market has been slow to mature in buyer sophistication.
Of course the buyers are uneven in their knowledge, so in the phone market you have a range. Similarly in cars there is now an opportunity with a small number of highly informed and opinionated consumers who find Tesla attractive. (disclosure: I'm a happy shareholder)
Of course the buyers are uneven in their knowledge, so in the phone market you have a range. Similarly in cars there is now an opportunity with a small number of highly informed and opinionated consumers who find Tesla attractive. (disclosure: I'm a happy shareholder)