Tesla shares fall further after firm misses 2022 delivery target
Tesla’s shares continued to fall on Tuesday, after the electric automaker announced that it had fallen short of its delivery target for 2022. The company produced approximately 1.4 million vehicles in the year, and delivered a record 1.3 million of them. While this represented a 40% year-over-year increase in deliveries, it fell short of the company’s target of 50% growth.
The news sent Tesla’s shares tumbling more than 12%, closing at $108.10. This marks a continuation of the stock’s downward trend; it has dipped roughly 65% over the past year.
The missed delivery target is a disappointment for investors and analysts, who had high hopes for the company. Tesla had set an ambitious goal of delivering 500,000 vehicles in 2022, and it had seemed on track to meet that target after delivering over 500,000 vehicles in the first half of the year. However, production and delivery issues in the second half of the year hindered the company’s progress.
According to a statement from Tesla, “we faced several challenges in Q4, including global semiconductor shortages that impacted production and delivery of certain vehicles, as well as logistics challenges associated with transporting vehicles to our customers in various regions around the world.” The company added that it has taken steps to address these issues, and that it is “confident in our ability to continue growing total production and deliveries in the future.”
Despite the missed target, Tesla’s 2022 performance was still impressive. The company’s 1.3 million deliveries set a new record for electric vehicle (EV) sales, and it remains the leader in the EV market. In addition, Tesla reported strong financial results for the year, with revenues of $31.5 billion and a net income of $721 million.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also had a successful year, personally. He became the world’s second-richest person, with a net worth of over $200 billion. However, the drop in Tesla’s stock price has chipped away at his fortune; he is currently the fourth-richest person, with a net worth of around $165 billion.
Despite the missed delivery target and declining stock price, analysts remain bullish on Tesla’s long-term prospects. Many believe that the company’s success in the EV market, combined with its expansion into other areas such as renewable energy and autonomous driving, positions it well for the future.
In a note to investors, analysts at JP Morgan wrote that “we continue to see Tesla as a key player in the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy, and believe the company is well positioned to capture significant share in both markets over the coming years.”
While the missed delivery target is a setback for Tesla, the company’s strong financial performance and leadership in the EV market suggest that it is well-positioned for the future.
