Tesla sold nearly 1 million vehicles in 2021
The Q4 results are out
If you ordered a Tesla and/or if you hold Tesla stock, you'll be happy to know that the American automaker exceeded expectations, by a significant margin, with a grand total of 308,600 vehicles delivered in Q4 2021. That's 71% more than Q4 2020.
Back in 2020, Tesla delivered nearly 500,000 cars in total whereas this year, they've delivered 936,000, so we can safely expect the company to break the 1 million mark in the next few years. Most of the cars (305,840) came out of main plants in the U.S. and in 2022, production numbers are likely to increase with the new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas and the one in Berlin, Germany; assuming the supply chain situation improves.
Tesla is doing pretty well even though competition is definitely hotting up. The biggest question marks are related to the Cybertruck and the especially the Roadster, as both vehicles are still not here even though it's now been two+ years since they were first announced.
What do you think, can Tesla keep its dominance in the EV market or will it eventually lose to traditional automakers that are catching up? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments (36)
They'll dominate for a while now, they've got a headstart and with their current funds most traditional manafactuers won't catch up, except maybe in China. However, whilst I won't voice my opinions on the brand im fear of sounding repetitive, I genuinely dislike the company for a multitude of reasons beside a lack of "noise".
Don't forget VW Group will ketchup thanks to the CEO
Get the joke ketchup
I've never actually driven one, but I've always felt Tesla is a car company primarily for people who are into new tech for the sake of new tech. However, if they can retain that status as the ubiquitous EV company, they will always have some sort of a customer base, at least barring any major problem.
For everyone else who buys cars based on how they drive, how they look, and how much they cost, I think the increased competition from traditional carmakers is going to cause a big dent in Tesla's market share. Personally, if I were in the market for an EV, I wouldn't be considering a Tesla.
what would you buy?
If I had to buy an EV? That's tough. I've always liked sport compacts and that segment hasn't been electrified yet. If money weren't an object, a Porsche Taycan or Audi E-Tron Sportback probably. If I had to pay for it myself I'd most likely be...
Read moreTesla's market dominance is their technological lead. They invest millions more than their nearest rival on R&D, as well as only employing the planet's best brains. They create new materials when they need them and are always so far ahead of the game it's almost comical. To think that Tesla is 'just an EV maker' is to miss the point altogether. They're involved in the whole ecosystem surrounding the use of recycled materials, introducing functioning technologies that enable ordinary people to simply become a part of the desperately needed swing to a less destructive way of living on this planet, and to drag everyone else kicking and screaming along with them simply because their way is better in every way. Even Spacex is kind of Tesla. Musk has kept it Private, but they still share technologies, making savings and faster technological leaps than either could do on their own. To answer the postulation as to whether Tesla can keep its market dominance, yes... and no. Yes, for a couple of years, but as far as building numbers of cars, Chinese brands will probably exceed Tesla within five years. BYD is the most likely to manage this first. Musk has always said that he created Tesla (once it was under his control) to lead the new-energy revolution. To do that he had to bite off the most profitable bits of ICE vehicle production with something better. This he has done VERY effectively. We nearly have a 'full house' of manufacturers agreeing that fully electric battery powered vehicles is the way forward. Long time resisters of the technology are tumbling like skittles. Legacy manufacturers, here in the West, are very much behind the market leaders, both in their technology as well as access to necessary supply-chain materials. Expect many great names to shrink markedly in the next few years as their market share disappears. Their core products are ICE based, with adaptions of those lines being very inefficient and costly to turn into EVs. They are too slow to reinvent themselves, because change has been engineered out of their Boardrooms and management, with even their technologies being bought in from thousands of small, independent suppliers, unconnected to them. After that, we need to think about the advent of vehicles that drive themselves, quite independently of human intervention. I'm not talking of driver assistance here, the main ingredient of which is the human brain in charge of the final decisions. So far, ONLY Tesla has done anywhere near enough research and development to get within pissing distance of this goal, irrespective of all the bollox many manufacturers have promised. They are just waiting for Tesla to crack the problem, and then license it off them (something Musk has assured us has been his aim all along). FSD will be a game changer over time. It'll give EVERYONE access to a car, from pre-teens to the disabled, the elderly, as well as everyone in-between. No license required. Insurance included in the cost of the ride. Next to no chance of getting into an accident. It's what travel has always aspired to, but never had the means to achieve. Even round-the-world travellers do it for the chance to see new places, not for staring at the road in front of them, and the rest of us generally hate driving in modern-day congestion. The thing is though, that getting into your precious ICE car to drive for pleasure will still be an option, beitall a rather expensive one. It's a win win.
In addition to all you've mentioned, think about what it could do to mass transit in cities - make it obsolete. At least the subway tunnels could still be used. Point-to-point travel for everybody, not just those who can afford their own car...
Read moreI see you've included another Tesla business here, the Boring Company!
They will begin falling further and further behind. Had a HUGE leap out front. They can't keep the lead. There's nowhere left for them to go. There's no huge innovations on the horizon. Just same old Tesla issues we all love to mock. The shine is started to wear off.
I'm not a Tesla hater, necessarily, I'm just calling it as I see it. The majors are in the game 100%. It's only a matter of time before the last nail gets pounded in on the coffin for Tesla. They won't be able to compete on price. The major have economies of scale and can generate huge volumes but can also sustain huge losses during downturns. Tesla doesn't have this position. They played the game well. HUGE jump out in front and have stayed there. But the writing has been on the wall. Even the execs saw this coming. It's an open discussion. Tesla has to figure out some amazing new innovative products and quick. Batteries are the next frontier. Drop in million mile between charge batteries, or something of this nature, and they get back in the game. Cleanup the QC issues and have some staying power. They know this. They are working on it. Time will tell but it's not looking optimistic for them.
What you see as a positive for the major ice manufacturers is actually a major problem for them. Most of their infrastructure is not easily convertible to the needs of EV’s and the move from ICE massively affects their ability to raise...
Read moreThey will move to the new 4680 batteries and structural battery design in 2022 which will reduce battery costs by around 50% and gives them a big cost / gross margin advantage. They probably have ~1m mile life. Agree they need to continue to...
Read moreNot a fanboy but I am glad for any US company having success. It’s good for the people who work there and the local businesses they support. Tesla has come a long way and enjoyed its first to market dominance. With other manufacturers entering the fray, that dominance can’t last. Especially since Cybertruck “production” has practically become a punchline.