Tesla Motors Reaches Corporate Profitability
10 August 2009
Electric-vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors said it achieved overall corporate profitability in July with approximately $1 million of earnings on revenue of $20 million. Profitability arose primarily from improved gross margin on the Roadster 2, the second iteration of Tesla’s award-winning sports car, the company said.
Tesla shipped a record 109 vehicles in July and enjoyed a surge in new Roadster purchases. In the third quarter, the privately held company said it will make “significant” deliveries to European customers while expanding its presence in several countries.
The Roadster 2, which Tesla is building and shipping to customers now, features an array of enhancements over the Roadster, including a more powerful heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, more comfortable seats and a more luxurious dashboard and cabin.
Last month Tesla began delivering the Roadster Sport, an even higher performance car that does 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, compared to 3.9 seconds for the standard Roadster. The Sport includes a more powerful motor, custom-tuned suspension and forged wheels. A customer’s Roadster Sport sprinted the quarter-mile in 12.643 seconds in late July, setting a class record in the National Electric Drag Racing Association.
Good show Tesla. Hope that their sedan will also be a hit. It may be the first mass produced American BEV with large sales nationwide. The Big-3 are a few years behind.
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 August 2009 at 07:59 AM
A handful of computer geeks from Silicon Valley launch the electrification of mass transport on Earth. Who says innovation is dead?
Posted by: sulleny | 10 August 2009 at 11:57 AM
Tesla! Please eliminate half the battery and install an OPOC range extender. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 10 August 2009 at 02:34 PM
Some simple arithmetic says that 1000 cars at the $100,000 price would produce $100 million in sales, not $20 million. It sounds like they might have gotten 200 units out the door, but were suppose to have 1000 delivered by now.
Posted by: SJC | 10 August 2009 at 04:32 PM
SJC,
The $20 million figure is for 1 month. They shipped 109 cars in that month, for around $11 million. Your 1000 cars is the total number of Roadsters sold to date.
Posted by: Arne | 12 August 2009 at 03:22 AM
SJC,
The $20 million figure is for 1 month. They shipped 109 cars in that month, for around $11 million. Your 1000 cars is the total number of Roadsters sold to date.
Posted by: Arne | 12 August 2009 at 03:22 AM