Tesla announced on Wednesday that it had recorded a record profit of US$5.5 billion in 2021. Its turnover exploded 71% to $53.82 billion, including no less than 65% in the fourth quarter alone.
This performance is attributable to a spectacular 87% increase in vehicle deliveries worldwide, exceeding 936,000 units, despite the shortage of semiconductors and supply problems affecting the entire automotive sector.
The California-based manufacturer, however, warned that problems with its supply chain could persist through 2022 and limit production, which leads us to…
Photo: Tesla
The Cybertruck still delayed
Originally scheduled for the fall of 2021, production of the controversial Cybertruck was first pushed back to 2022. In its results presentation yesterday, Tesla said its electric pickup truck won’t be ready until 2023 after all.
The company prefers for the moment to concentrate on increasing the capacity of its factories in California and China, then start well those of Texas and Germany. Consolidating its supply chain is also a priority.
For the big boss Elon Musk, it’s not the time to introduce new models on the market. Besides, there won’t be any unveilings in 2022, so if you were hoping to get a closer look at the famous “Tesla at $25,000”, the production Roadster or even the humanoid robot Optimus, you’ll have to wait a little longer. .
Many enthusiasts are waiting for an affordable Tesla model, but Musk said the company isn’t working on it right now because it has too many things to do. In the same breath, he claimed that self-driving taxis are a better way to reduce transport costs than low-cost electric vehicles.
Speaking of price, Musk admits that the Cybertruck could cost more than Tesla let on when it unveiled the prototype in November 2019 (starting at US$39,900), not least because of the high level of technology this truck includes. This is likely to displease the holders of reservations (they would be more than a million, apparently), especially since the first copies produced will be the top-of-the-range four-engine models. Tesla is ultimately aiming for a volume of 250,000 units per year.