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Tesla has found it's groove. Not only is demand robust for the Model S, they are expanding production as well. So far it looks like they will surpass their 21
by dave1619 13y ago
Tesla has found it's groove. Not only is demand robust for the Model S, they are expanding production as well. So far it looks like they will surpass their 21,000 cars they've given guidance for 2013. They're starting rollout in Europe this month, and Asia later this year.
At the end of 2014, they will start rolling out the Model X SUV that will offer dual engines. Some are speculating that it could give a 0-60mph time in under 4 seconds. That would be truly incredible for an SUV.
Then, Tesla is readying the long-awaited GenIII vehicle due at the end of 2016 or in 2017. Elon Musk recently stated that his goal is to sell the vehicle for $35000 (w/o incentives) and for the car to have a 200 mile range. Further, Gen III is targeting the BMW 3 series and many are expecting the Gen III to handle and perform better than a BMW 3 series. It could be the hottest car on the planet when it's released.
Tesla as a company is doing very well. They're expanding like crazy. And they're managing their cash flow well. They will report Q2 earnings this Wednesday, 8/7 and they could report another quarterly profit as well.
In another area, Elon Musk has promised to achieve 25% gross margin on the Model S by the end of the year. So, it will be interesting to see how far they've come along when Q2 earnings are reported on Wednesday. Further, it could be possible Tesla is shooting for 30% gross margin on the Model S next year (which would be incredible). In the 2012 Elon Musk ceo incentive plan, reaching 4 consecutive quarters of 30% gross margin is one of the key milestones.
disclaimer: long TSLA
- mhartl 13y agoExcellent comment. You're clearly following Tesla closely. N.B. Should be "its groove".
- codex 13y agoOn the other hand: - Tesla recently halved the deposit required to order a Model S, an indicator of weakening demand. - Tesla is raking in up to $35K in profits per car by selling ZEV credits earned through a CARB loophole which may soon close (http://www.plugincars.com/will-likely-loss-zev-credits-hurt-tesla-127916.html http://www.plugincars.com/will-likely-loss-zev-credits-hurt-...), reducing ZEV profits considerably. - Tesla has repeatedly promised to increase its gross margin, but has so far failed to do so. - While Nissan has invested in their own battery manufacturing plants (in Japan, US, and UK), Tesla buys their batteries from Panasonic. While they design and assemble their own battery packs, they haven't made raw battery manufacture their core competency, which could hurt their ability to compete on cost, or to innovate in lithium ion battery technology. - The BMW i3 will soon be entering production. - Tesla recently closed another round of funding, the cash for which will be used to bring new models to market, meaning they're about to take hit to earnings for R&D. This is fine, but the stock may collapse in the short term.