You seems to be a Tesla
You seems to be a Tesla doubter.
Historically, when Tesla announces a price, it has always honored its price.
10's of thousands of people started to make deposits before Tesla announced its Model S price. When it did, it stuck to its words and when it wants to change its price, it would give you a warning such as November 29, 2012 announcement on its website (under Enthusiasts--Blog). It warns you if you want the same price, you'll have so much time to be grandfathered.
Thus, I have complete faith that $12,000 price is good until Tesla can be persuaded by your sweet persuasion to increase its price, but even then, it will give me a warning on its website so I can have a chance to be grandfathered.
Now, how can Tesla make money by selling 85 kWh battery for $12,000 in 8 years or the year of 2020?
Do your math! I can think of 2:
1) Go to its website, if you invested $12,000 to buy Tesla stock TSLA at its open at $19.00 on 06/29/2010 for 631.57895 shares, today 12/27/2012, TSLA closes at $33.69, which means you can sell your investment for $21,277.89, that's a profit of $9,277.89 or 77%.
That's only a hold up of your $12,000 for 2.5 years. How much more can you profit when it get a hold of your $12,000 for the next 8 years?
2) New technology price depreciation. It happens to 60" LED, cell phones... It happens in Tesla. The base price for its first model, Roadster, was over $100,000. The base price for its current Model S after 1 year of discontinuation of Roadster is almost half of that. And the Model S can run further and can beat BMW M5 0-60 second drag race!
That's only 1 year! How when you hold on your $12,000 for 8 years, would there any technology price depreciation?
There are many doubters out there, including in the options market. Overwhelmingly, people are short on Tesla (betting that Tesla stock price would go down).
I am no business person, but it has proven its critic over and over again that Tesla's business plan is sensible, believable, credible, and some day profitable (its first positive cash flow was informally tweeted as of 12/03/2012 but you have to wait for its formal filing to SEC to be sure.)