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Tesla boss Musk: Good numbers, bad numbers
Photo: Susan Walsh / dpa
Tesla set the next record for deliveries in the past quarter - but at the same time fell far short of previous forecasts.
The company of tech billionaire Elon Musk brought 343,830 electric cars to buyers from July to September, analysts had expected 358,000 deliveries.
The previous record was a good 310,000 in the first quarter of this year.
The reason for the disappointed expectations are apparently difficulties in logistics: "In the past, our delivery volumes have shifted towards the end of each quarter due to the regional series production of vehicles," Tesla said in a statement.
"As our production volumes continue to increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to secure vehicle transport capacity at a reasonable cost during these peak logistics weeks."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced in a tweet that he would smooth out the "crazy delivery wave at the end of the quarter" in the future "to reduce transport costs and relieve the Tesla team." The current logistics difficulties are also casting a shadow over Musk's other projects.
Just Friday, the entrepreneur showed off a prototype of his humanoid robot, Optimus, and predicted the electric vehicle maker would be able to make millions of them and sell them for under $20,000.
inflation and economic concerns
Tesla is currently expanding its vehicle production, including increasing capacity in the two new plants in Grünheide near Berlin and in Texas.
Production thus reached almost 365,923 electric cars in the past quarter – mostly from the volume models 3 and Y. Of the premium Model S and Model X vehicles, only 18,672 were delivered to customers.
A lot of attention is paid to Tesla's delivery figures - because they are an indicator of how well the electric pioneer is doing against the increasing competition from established car companies in the business.
The current question is to what extent inflation and concerns about the economy could slow down the market.
rai/dpa
