Despite a series of price decreases that reduced the income per vehicle sold, Tesla announced a considerably larger than anticipated increase in earnings.
In the second quarter of 2018, Tesla (TSLA) announced adjusted earnings of $3.1 billion, or 91 cents per share. Refinitiv’s survey of analysts predicted 82 cents in profits per share.
Although profit margins were still lower than they were last year as a result of the sequence of price reductions the company made since early this year, its profit margin of 18.2% was better than anticipated. Tesla’s margin was 25% a year ago, and in the first quarter, when it started implementing price reductions, it even claimed a 19.3% profit margin. However, it was anticipated that the latest quarter’s profit margin would fall below 17% as a result of the ongoing price reduction.
Without revenue from the sale of regulatory credits, automotive revenue increased by 47%. However, that increase paled in comparison to the 83% increase in vehicle sales, indicating that Tesla is still able to increase demand for its automobiles by offering them at lower rates.
The price reductions were made in response to the company’s increased rivalry with established manufacturers’ EV products, rising borrowing rates that increased the cost of buying a car for most purchasers, and economic uncertainty.
The business said in a statement that “our operating margin remained healthy… even with price reductions in Q1 and early Q2.” It said that ongoing efforts to cut costs, ongoing production ramp-ups at factories in Germany and Texas that first opened last year, and solid performance in its other sectors, including energy and services, were responsible for achieving this.
The company’s earnings statement stated, “The challenges of these uncertain times are not over, but we believe we have the right ingredients for the long-term success.”
According to the business, it still expects to be able to sell 1.8 million vehicles this year, which would be 37% less than the amount for 2022.
It did issue a warning that the planned summer shutdowns of its assembly lines would result in lower third-quarter production. It said that doing so was necessary in order to modernise its factories.
In a conference call with investors, CEO Elon Musk revealed that the business is in “early” talks to licence its “full self-driving” (FSD) technology to another significant automaker.
We don’t intend to keep this a secret, then. Without elaborating on its application, Musk stated, “We’re more than glad to licence it to others.