Tesla Production Decreased in Q1 2024

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PUBLISHED Apr 03, 2024UPDATED Apr 04

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The Facts

Elon Musk-owned Tesla saw an 8% year-over-year decrease in electric vehicle (EV) production, with just 387K vehicles handed over in Q1 as the company dealt with a European plant fire and global shipping disruptions.
Analysts had expected around 455K vehicles for Q1, but those expectations were lowered in recent weeks. This was the first reported decline in deliveries since 2020 when the COVID pandemic disrupted operations.

The Spin

Narrative A

This news is nothing to panic about. Tesla has sold more vehicles in the first quarter than its biggest competitor — Chinese carmaker BYD — regaining its position as the world's leading seller of EVs. Musk has a strategy and is likely to continue to outperform all other EV manufacturers.

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Narrative B

Tesla is facing multiple problems, including increased competition. The root cause of Tesla's problems could be Elon Musk, as many observers believe the company would be better off if he stepped down as chief executive officer and focused solely on innovation. Musk's controversial social media posts and his association with right-wing politics may be negatively affecting sales.

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Nerd narrative

There's a 10% chance that Tesla will become the largest car company in the world (by sales) before Jan. 1, 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Tesla Largest Car Company by 2035

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