Tesla reported on Saturday that the company has delivered 241,300 electric vehicles during the third quarter of 2021. The quarter’s deliveries topped expectations with analysts predicting the EV manufacturer would deliver an estimated 220,900 electric cars during this period.
The Breakdown
According to Tesla's report, the company produced 237,823 cars from September 30, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Model 3 and Y vehicles accounted for 228,882 of those, making them the company's more affordable mid-range offerings.
The remaining Model S and X vehicles produced totalled 8,941 units.
Tesla shipped 201,250 vehicles and manufactured 206,421 cars in the third quarter, despite Model S and X production falling below 2,500.
The company’s statement said, “Our delivery count should be viewed as slightly conservative, as we only count a car as delivered if it is transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct. Final numbers could vary by up to 0.5% or more.”
Tesla does not reveal sales or production data from China vs the United States, nor does it break down delivery numbers by model. (Deliveries are the closest estimate of vehicle sales for the company.)
The Delays
During the quarter, Tesla's customers were subjected to a slew of unanticipated delivery delays. The firm acknowledged the delays in a statement released on Saturday, blaming them on "global supply chain and logistics problems," and thanking customers for their patience.
On October 7, Tesla will hold its annual shareholder meeting at its facility outside Austin, which is currently under construction. When the state's Covid-related health orders forced Tesla's Fremont factory to temporarily cease operations for a few weeks in the spring of 2020, Musk threatened to take Tesla's headquarters out of California.
Elon Musk's electric vehicle company now makes automobiles in Shanghai and Fremont, California, while continuing to manufacture batteries in the United States alongside Panasonic at a huge facility outside of Reno. Tesla began shipping lithium iron phosphate batteries from China to be used in Model 3 automobiles built for customers in the United States for the period ending September 30, 2021.
Tesla also temporarily halted some operations at its Shanghai vehicle assembly factory, where it builds cars for Chinese and European clients. The halts were blamed to a global semiconductor shortage, which has affected the whole auto sector and provided a challenge for Tesla all year.
EV Future
New battery electric vehicles are now in production and selling to customers in the United States, including Rivian's R1T and Lucid Motors' long-awaited luxury Lucid Air sedan, indicating that competition is heating up in important areas for Tesla. At the same time, interest in electric vehicles is growing, especially in the United States, which is lagging behind China and Europe in terms of adoption.
Increasing fuel costs and environmental laws further add to this demand.
In China, for example, government programmes make obtaining licence plates for electric vehicles far easier and less expensive than for internal combustion engine vehicles. To boost EV manufacturing and use, the Chinese government has granted subsidies, tax exemptions, and investments in charging infrastructure.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden set a voluntary target for half of all new vehicle sales in the US to be electric models by 2030 — including battery electrics, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The move is part of the Biden administration’s pledge to reduce U.S. emissions by in half by 2030.
Tesla has such a significant lead over the competition in the EV industry that no one is expected to catch up to them very soon. Tesla's cult will keep customers loyal to the brand for years to come. Even Audi and Mercedes are having trouble capturing the same ambience. While their market share will decline, Tesla will maintain its dominant position for years to come unless there is a big internal blunder.
