Tesla posts record deliveries globally – again

Tesla has posted another record quarter-year for vehicle production and deliveries – with nearly 470,000 vehicles handed over to customers – amid continual price cuts intended to keep demand high.

The US electric-car maker reported 466,140 vehicles as produced from April to June 2023 – up 83 per cent from the same period last year, and 10 per cent more than its previous quarterly record of 422,875 deliveries, set from January to March 2023.

Over the same period (April to June) Tesla produced 479,700 vehicles, the company confirmed in a financial announcement overnight.

The tally of about 466,000 deliveries beats the estimate of 448,000 vehicles anticipated by financial analysts in recent days.

The record result has followed a series of price cuts in the US, Australia and elsewhere since the start of this year to counter reduced customer demand, amid rising inflation and interest rates.

Tesla cut prices in Australia on 1 July to their lowest levels in history – by $3900 on every model before on-road costs and Luxury Car Tax, where applicable – but this will only impact deliveries during this current quarter (July to September).

Delivery figures for Tesla in Australia are not due to be revealed until VFACTS sales data – collated by the peak new-car body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries – is released later this week.

However to the end of May 2023, Tesla has reported 18,559 vehicles as delivered, across 10,117 Model 3 sedans and 8442 Model Y SUVs.

Tesla does not break down the split between individual models in its global deliveries summary, though it outlines 446,915 of the April to June deliveries were Model 3s and Model Ys, while 19,225 were larger Model S sedans or Model X SUVs.

The Model S and Model X have not been available in Australia since the end of 2020, and the latest models unveiled in early 2021 will not be manufactured in right-hand drive, Tesla confirmed recently.

The US electric-car specialist is scheduled to hold a presentation for investors and media to outline its financial results – and give updates on new models, its autonomous driving software, and other aspects of its business – on July 20, Australian time.