Tesla sales fall short in final quarter of 2022

Tesla fell just short of investors’ sales expectations during the final quarter of 2022, despite setting a new record for car production throughout the year.

Analysts expected the American EV firm to deliver around 420,000 cars during the fourth quarter, but it recorded 405,278. Nonetheless, this was a 12.9% increase over the previous quarter.

An overwhelming majority (388,131) of its fourth-quarter sales were of the Tesla Model 3 saloon and the closely related Tesla Model Y SUV. The two were Europe’s best-selling EVs during November, with the latter model also the region’s best-selling car overall. 

Tesla declined to comment on its performance in the UK market when approached by Autocar Business.

The remaining 17,147 deliveries were of the upmarket Tesla Model S saloon and the Tesla Model X SUV, for which sales of facelifted cars are yet to begin outside the US.

Tesla has announced that it will this week begin taking Chinese orders of the range-topping Plaid variants of these cars, with initial deliveries scheduled for the first half of 2023.

Tesla’s failure to meet investors' expectations comes despite an assault of incentives designed to boost end-of-year sales.

This included an offer of 6000 miles of free Supercharging for UK customers who took delivery between 15 and 31 December 2022, worth about £800; and a $7500 (£6300) discount for Model S and Model Y buyers in the US.

Despite what it describes as “significant Covid and supply-chain-related challenges”, Tesla recorded a new high for car production last year, making 1,369,611 cars – a 40% improvement on 2021 levels.

The opening of new factories in Berlin, Germany, and Austin, Texas, likely contributed significantly to this increase.

Following the release of these preliminary results, Reuters reported a reshuffle at Tesla’s executive level.