Tesla lowers lease prices on the Model 3 and Model Y
Joe Tegtmeyer
Tesla's third-quarter earnings call is tomorrow, October 18th at 5:30 pm ET, and it may be one for the books. While there will be talk about the quarter that was, the focus will be on the future. Most notable the Cybertruck and the Model 3 Highland.
This call will also mark a changing of the guard or Master of Coin. Zachary Kirkhorn stepped down as CFO in August, and Vaibhav Taneja, Tesla's Chief Accounting Officer, was promoted.
As always, Tesla opened the questions up to investors and encouraged others to vote the question up or down. These pressing inquiries offer a glimpse into retail and institutional investors' collective concerns and curiosities.
Cybertruck Deliveries: Not surprisingly, the number one topic is the long-awaited Cybertruck. The question of how many deliveries Tesla anticipates for 2024 underscores the importance of the vehicle in Tesla's future strategy and the electric truck market. Also, a fleet of Cybertrucks has gathered outside GigaTexas, as we expect a delivery event date to be announced soon.
Model 3 Highland's US Availability: The refreshed Model 3 is on the showroom floor across the ocean, but no word when the Highland will appear in North America. This is a big deal for investors and buyers. It is believed many buyers are waiting on the latest Tesla, and if so, the floodgates will overflow with sales.
The 4680 Battery Cell Update: Tesla's Battery Day left many in awe, with the 4680 cell being the crown jewel of the event. The progress towards its performance enhancements and cost savings could be a game-changer for Tesla's energy storage and electric vehicle range capabilities. Shareholders are eager for an update on this groundbreaking technology.
Expansion Plans and Factory Updates: Tesla's international growth, particularly in Europe, is a focal point for many. Investors seek clarity on capacity expansion at Tesla's Berlin and Austin factories. Furthermore, the timeline for opening the much-discussed Gigafactory in Mexico is also in the spotlight.
Pricing Decisions on FSD: Full Self-Driving (FSD) is seen as a pivotal aspect of Tesla's future. With the recent price drop, despite improvements, investors are curious about the rationale behind this decision and its implications for the company's autonomous driving strategy.
Legal Liability on FSD: Mercedes has recently started accepting legal responsibility when their Level 3 Drive Pilot system is engaged. This move raises the question: will Tesla follow suit with its FSD? This question is paramount, given the public's scrutiny of autonomous driving safety.
Growth Expectations for 2024: Last but not least, growth projections for 2024 have emerged as a critical topic. The consensus anticipates Tesla will deliver approximately 2.3 million vehicles, marking a 28% growth from 2023. Investors are intrigued by whether this can be achieved without a significant mass-market launch and how this aligns with Tesla's long-term Compound Annual Growth Rate targets.
While the numbers from the earnings report will undoubtedly be critical, these seven questions underline the strategic moves and decisions that will shape Tesla's future. The upcoming call promises to be enlightening, shedding light on Tesla's vision and the electric vehicle market's trajectory.
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After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.