Tesla recently announced in a press release that the company delivered approximately 24,500 vehicles in Q3. This is an increase of over 70% from last quarter’s 14,402 deliveries.
While that jump is a huge win for Tesla’s stake in the electric vehicle market, it’s also a promising indicator to investors — particularly in light of long-term projects like the Gigafactory and a storied plan to colonize Mars.
First development tank for Mars ship pic.twitter.com/dF5tZkldUb
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2016
Tesla Stock Surges
After a marked slump on September 30, Tesla’s stock surged today in light of the company’s success. This surge is particularly notable because, by all accounts, it’s a conservative estimate: Tesla reports that about 5,500 vehicles were still in transit to customers at the end of the quarter, and the company only counts a car as officially delivered if it is “transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct.”
Tesla expects Q4 deliveries and production to be “at or slightly above Q3,” even though Q4 is a shorter quarter with holidays and potential winter weather delays. The increase is at least partially a result of Tesla reintroducing the Model S 60, which hits a lower price point that better suits wide consumer demand. The Model S 60 costs $66,000, and it features a 75kWh battery pack that extends the car’s power and range.
A Necessary Win
Last quarter’s high numbers are especially promising in light of accidents related to Tesla’s autopilot feature earlier this year. While it was later established that the autopilot feature was not at fault for a fatal accident in Amsterdam, the potential for a negative public image could make widespread adoption of Tesla’s technology that much more difficult.
Regarding public image, Musk recently made headlines for his announcement that SpaceX would plan to send humans to Mars as soon as 2024, if everything goes according to plan. While Tesla’s stock dropped after the big reveal (as it did back in July), last quarter’s numbers send a clear message: people are willing to put their trust (and money) behind the company and its enigmatic figurehead — particularly if they think that figurehead is trying to save humanity.
Rebecca writes about green technology, sustainability, and big ideas. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a degree in Creative Writing. She lives in sunny San Diego. Follow her on Twitter at @beccawriteswhat.
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