Following a strong fourth quarter in which the US company reached its greatest-ever quarterly sales, net income, and operating income, Tesla completed its most profitable year on record in 2022. The manufacturer of electric vehicles reported $24.3 billion in revenue in December, reflecting an increase of 33% year on year despite reducing prices in a number of regions around the world. While Tesla's net income more than doubled to $12.6 billion, its overall yearly revenue climbed by 51% to $81.5 billion.
With a 51% rise from the previous year, Tesla's automotive activities accounted for $71.46 billion of its overall sales. The total revenue for the fourth quarter was over $21.3 billion. Additionally, Tesla affirmed that on March 1, 2023, at its investor day, it would present the first information about its next-generation vehicle platform. In 2022, it delivered 1.31 million vehicles worldwide and produced 1.36 million passenger cars.
Most of the Texas-based company's sales last year were Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y vehicles accounting for around 1.24 million of its total number of deliveries. Worldwide deliveries of the Tesla Model X and Tesla Model S totaled 66,705. A record number of automobiles were produced at each of its five factories in California, Shanghai, Berlin, Texas, and Nevada.
Despite having a prosperous year, Tesla is prepared for an uncertain economic scenario in 2023. In addition, rising interest rates are predicted. It declared that it would increase production while quickening its cost-cutting path, with CEO Elon Musk setting a target of 1.8 million vehicles produced this year. Musk stated on a teleconference with analysts and shareholders on Wednesday that Tesla's prognosis for 2023 is looking promising. Tesla received the greatest orders year to date in January, according to Musk, and the business is now taking orders at a rate that is almost twice as fast as manufacturing.
Musk said that if 2023 goes smoothly without major supply chain disruptions, then Tesla may even be able to produce two million cars. At its Texas factory, Tesla says it is on schedule to begin producing the Cybertruck later this year. While the Roadster sports car and Robotaxi are still in the development phase, the long-awaited Tesla Semi electric HGV is currently in pilot production.
What’s happening to the Cybertruck?
Elon Musk announced on Wednesday’s call that full-scale production of Tesla's eagerly awaited Cybertruck won't begin until 2024. Musk was questioned if the upcoming car would be produced by the mid-2023 deadline that was established in Q2 of last year. However, Musk acknowledged that Cybertruck production would begin "sometime this summer," but came to the conclusion that the divisive pickup won't go into mass production until the following year. Musk said he tends to downplay the start of manufacturing because it always starts off slowly.
Musk at the Cybertruck unveiling in 2019
Tesla said that it has begun setting up the manufacturing tools and necessary equipment required for the assembly of the Cybertruck, including the castings that will create the body of the electric pickup truck. The company's Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, is anticipated to be the primary manufacturing location for the Cybertruck.
Industry analysts cautioned that for the Cybertruck to have the desired effect, the schedule needs to be accelerated. Cybertruck will be entering an increasingly congested section of the EV market amid the GMC Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and probably the Chevy Silverado EV and RAM 1500 EV following closely behind.
The Cybertruck continues to draw a lot of interest after its extravagant debut, which unveiled its abrasive, post-apocalyptic look. Maybe Tesla can start manufacturing if it lobs more metal balls around. Musk also stated in the conference call with analysts following the electric vehicle manufacturer's quarterly earnings that a Chinese company is likely to be its biggest rival. Asked about Chinese car companies, Musk said they work the hardest, and they work the smartest, describing them as the most competitive in the world. Musk said his best guess as to who is likely to be Tesla’s biggest rival would probably be an EV manufacturer from China.
