Good news for electric cars, not for the Cybertruck

As Elon Musk announced during the presentation of financial results, Tesla attracted many customers by significantly discounting the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y electric cars. An increase in demand that goes quickly with a small increase in prices. And Cybertruck will be produced this year, but in very small quantities.

Tesla’s situation in recent months has been somewhat worrying, especially in China. And for good reason, as the brand’s Model Y and Model 3 inventories failed to sell despite price cuts and the return of its sponsorship program. With customers opting to wait until January 1, 2023, when the brand’s cars go on sale, it wasn’t necessarily any better in the US. Eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

Profitable descent

While the manufacturer broke its record with more than one million vehicles delivered worldwide in 2022, customers weren’t necessarily there at the end of the year, even though factories were running at full speed. On January 13, Tesla made an unexpected worldwide price drop. The Model Y then dropped $13,000, or about €11,900 at current exchange rates.

And inevitably, as Elon Musk hoped with this strategic maneuver, this new pricing policy affected sales. Transmitted by the site Automotive NewsThe brand manager explains, “ So far, we have recorded l in Januaryit is the most order compared to the previous year“. He goes on to say, ” we are currently seeing orders at twice the production rate“.

The result, Tesla decided Raising the price of Model Y again, 500 dollars (about 458 euros), due to increased demand. An unsurprising revaluation, since the brand is used to playing yo-yo with the prices of its cars and has been for several years. To note this increase does not apply to the French market.

Cybertruck will count less

Tesla also announced its fourth quarter and full year 2022 results It had a record revenue of 12.5 billion dollars5.5 billion in 2021 vs. An incredible development, when we know that the company lost 1 billion in 2018. A move we owe in particular to the success of the Model 3, and later the Model Y, the best of them all. The car, sold in Europe in November, has all engines combined.

But the brand wants to go further. If it delivered at least 1.3 million cars worldwide in 2022, Tesla announced its goal of 1.8 million this year. Even if Elon Musk claims that he can produce two million cars, he avoids big problems. At what distance should the main competitor BYD be kept? It’s hard to say. However, Elon Musk is most likely to reach that number in the soon-to-be-redesigned Model Y and Model 3.

Indeed, if the Tesla Cybertruck is going to sell well this year, 2023 results shouldn’t count for much. It will begin marketing in the US this summer, and it still needs time before it invades other markets. Tesla has announced that production volumes will be very low this year, with plans to start in the summer. It should be noted that although the Model 3 was launched in North America in 2017, it arrived in Europe only a year later. And it went on sale in China only in 2019.

The electric pickup will also have to face some stiff competition, hitting the market a bit late, facing the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and other Chevrolet Silverado EVs. It should be noted that it was introduced in 2019, then it was repeatedly postponed before Elon Musk announced the deadline for the summer of 2023.

In 2022, three car manufacturers managed to reach the podium in electric car sales. These are Tesla, BYD and Volkswagen. But be careful because the battle is on…
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