Tesla has announced that in Q4, the company produced and delivered at the rate of nearly 1,000 vehicles per day, setting new company records for both production and deliveries.
Production in Q4 grew to 86,555 vehicles, 8% more than our prior all-time high in Q3. This included:
- 61,394 Model 3 vehicles, in line with our guidance and 15% more than Q3.
- 25,161 Model S and X vehicles, consistent with our long-term run rate of approximately 100,000 per year.
Q4 deliveries grew to 90,700 vehicles, which was 8% more than our prior all time-high in Q3. This include 63,150 Model 3 (13% growth over Q3), 13,500 Model S, and 14,050 Model X vehicles.
In 2018, Tesla delivered a total of 245,240 vehicles: 145,846 Model 3 and 99,394 Model S and X. To put the growth into perspective, the company delivered almost as many vehicles in 2018 as it did in all prior years combined.
The Q4 Model 3 deliveries were limited to mid- and higher-priced variants, cash/loan transactions, and North American customers only. More than three quarters of Model 3 orders in Q4 came from new customers, rather than reservation holders said Tesla in a statement.
The company further added “there remain significant opportunities to continue to grow Model 3 sales by expanding to international markets, introducing lower-priced variants and offering leasing. International deliveries in Europe and China will start in February 2019. Expansion of Model 3 sales to other markets, including with a right-hand drive variant, will occur later in 2019.”
1,010 Model 3 vehicles and 1,897 Model S and X vehicles were in transit to customers at the end of Q4, and will be delivered in early Q1 2019. Tesla said “our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry, and we were able to reduce vehicles in transit to customers by significantly improving our logistics system in North America.”
The company added “we are taking steps to partially absorb the reduction of the federal EV tax credit (which, as of January 1st, dropped from $7,500 to $3,750). Starting today, we are reducing the price of Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles in the U.S. by $2,000. Customers can apply to receive the $3,750 federal tax credit for new deliveries starting on January 1, 2019, and may also be eligible for several state and local electric vehicle and utility incentives, which range up to $4,000. Combined with the reduced costs of maintenance and of charging a Tesla versus paying for gas at the pump – which can result in up to $100 per month or more in savings – this means our vehicles are even more affordable than similarly priced gasoline vehicles.”