The Tesla Gigafactory of Texas, Austin, has started production of the Model Y.
Tesla outperforming, is it still a surprise? The American manufacturer has published its financial results for the year 2021, including the results for the fourth quarter.
Thus, we knew that the American had come close to the million vehicles sold in 2021, and more precisely 936,222 (+ 87% compared to 2020) including 308,650 (11,766 Model S / X and 296,884 Model 3 / Y) just in the last quarter. At the same time, 305,840 vehicles (13,109 Model S/X and 292,731 Model 3/Y) had been produced.
In this fourth quarter of 2021, Tesla generated sales of 17.71 billion dollars (+65%) and a net profit of 2.32 billion dollars, nevertheless down by 340 million (social charges linked to the remuneration of Elon Musk). Rising raw material costs and the recall campaign of 475,000 vehicles also impacted quarterly profit. The year 2021 saw turnover jump by 71%, to 53.82 billion dollars (+71%) for a net profit of 5.51 billion dollars.
As for cash, it increased by $1.43 billion between the third and fourth quarters of 2021 for a total of $17.57 billion over the year.
Gigafactories running at full speed
In 2021, Tesla invested $6.5 billion to build new Gigafactories and improve existing ones. In terms of Gigafactory, Fremont broke records last year with no less than 600,000 vehicles produced. The objective in 202 is to exceed this figure.
Considered the “main export platform”the Gigafactory Shanghai ranks second with just over 450,000 vehicles produced.
As for the last two Gigafactory, Austin and Berlin, only the first has started to produce Model Ys. The second is still waiting for the green light from the German authorities to open its production lines from now on. This does not prevent him from carrying out vehicle production tests.
While waiting for the green light from the authorities, the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin is testing its production lines.
On the other hand, the batteries of the future German Teslas will be composed of 2170 cells while the new 4680 battery cells will be reserved for the Gigafactory in Austin.
Tesla, which plans to increase deliveries by 50%, warns that this “the growth rate will depend on its equipment capacity, operational efficiency and supply chain capacity and stability”. In question, the world shortage of semiconductors whose impact on production capacities “expected to continue until 2022”. However, it plans to deliver more than 1.4 million vehicles this year.
2022, the year of autonomous driving?
During the financial statement presentation, Elon Musk said he was confident in the ability of his electric vehicles to offer full autonomous driving (FSD), “safer than man”in 2022. Currently, the number of fully autonomous beta-test Teslas in the United States is around 60,000. The manufacturer claims to have tested on open roads the latest update to its software whose current characteristics did not allow not yet 100% autonomous driving.
Cybertruck, Roadster and Semi in 2023?
Today, Tesla is mainly focused on the Model 3 and Model Y and does not plan to launch a new vehicle. To go out so the $ 25,000 Tesla promised in 2020 and which should normally land in 2023. The manufacturer claims not to be (anymore?) working on it. As for the Cybertruck, Roadster and Semi, their productions have once again been postponed. We are now talking about 2023.
The production of the Semi Electrics is still awaited.
Compared to other car manufacturers, Tesla has been able to hold its own. The American has, it seems, better managed its supply chains for semiconductors. For this, he did not hesitate to obtain supplies from other chip suppliers and rewrite his software for the adapters.