While the most exciting parts of the 2024 Impact Report were focused on Tesla’s future roadmap, a deeper dive into the data reveals a lot about what’s currently happening. The report is packed with key metrics on vehicle safety, ownership costs, and the explosive growth of Tesla Energy.
These aren’t just separate points - they all come together as part of a self-reinforcing and self-feeding engine. The data shows just how all these elements work together to help scale Tesla’s various businesses, while also advancing each one. Let’s take a look.
Pillar 1: Safety
The report makes some of Tesla’s boldest safety claims to date, but they’re all backed by data from the global fleet. This fleet data is one of Tesla's biggest advantages, allowing it to prove just how much safer its vehicles are.
As of 2024, vehicles using Autopilot technology were involved in one accident for every 6.77 million miles driven. This represents a safety record nearly 10 times better than the U.S. national average of one accident per 0.70 million miles.
Not a Tesla App
Alongside that, the entire Tesla lineup, including the Cybertruck, now boasts 5-star safety ratings from the NHTSA. Tesla vehicles are also 8 times less likely to be involved in a fire than the average vehicle in the United States, which completely blows the “EVs are a fire risk” claim out of the water.
In general, Tesla vehicles are far safer than their legacy automotive cousins, especially with new features being added in the name of safety, like the 4D cabin radar, customizable parental controls, and extreme body strength.
In fact, Tesla vehicles are so safe, you might be denied a driver’s license because your vehicle is too safe. That’s something that only Tesla could pull off.
But why does this matter? Safety is safety, right? In fact, the data that proves just how safe Tesla is helps build both consumer and regulatory trust, which in turn facilitates initiatives like the recent Robotaxi pilot. A safer car is a better car, which helps drive demand and fuel the growth of the fleet. That also means more data, which can be used to make the fleet safer.
Pillar 2: Total Cost of Ownership
The report also makes a compelling case that this best-in-class vehicle safety is now as affordable as mass-market alternatives when measured over the vehicle's total life cycle.
That is known as the Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO. The Model Y RWD has a TCO of $0.74/mi. In comparison to popular ICE competitors, like the Honda CR-V ($0.74/mi) and the Toyota RAV4 ($0.76/mi), the Model Y is a stellar competitor. When you look at comparable luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 ($1.19/mi), this number looks even better.
While the initial buy-in cost of the Model Y is higher, the TCO lowers due to many reasons. The lower cost of electricity to power the Model Y, the lower cost of ongoing maintenance, and the likelihood that the vehicle will stay on the road for longer all matter here.
EVs, and Teslas in particular, have lower maintenance costs compared to other vehicles. That all adds up over the years when the only things you need to replace are washer fluid, wipers, and tires, versus a whole litany of consumable parts and oils in an ICE vehicle.
Tesla needs to shatter the perception that EVs are prohibitively expensive by focusing on the total cost, which includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation. This affordability expands Tesla's addressable market far beyond the premium segment, which is essential for growing the fleet. Combining that low TCO with safety is the key to mass-market adoption, which also helps to drive safety and data collection for FSD.
Pillar 3: Tesla Energy
The quiet winner of Tesla’s recent Earnings Calls and this Impact Report has been Tesla Energy, which supports the fleet, while also being a massive, rapidly growing business in its own right.
There are three key parts to this - the first is Megapack. Tesla has scaled Megapack deployments by 110% year-over-year since 2023, making an enormous impact on grid sustainability through the provision of energy storage and grid-forming services.
Alongside Tesla’s Autobidder and Opticaster software, which help make better use of renewables on the grid, Megapack can effectively double grid capacity when used correctly.
Alongside Megapack, Powerwalls are also making an impact. Over 100,000 Powerwall units are enrolled in Virtual Power Plant programs across the globe, which help manage and reduce grid fluctuations, while allowing customers to benefit from the ability to buy and sell energy. For many, it can yield a tidy profit per Powerwall, sometimes around $50-$100 USD per month.
Tesla has also achieved scale in energy. Giga Shanghai came online in Q1 2025, which brings Tesla Energy’s total global capacity to 80 GWh. With demand stretching well past 250 GWh, there’s plenty of room for Tesla to continue expanding their stationary energy storage business.
That is exceptionally important, as Tesla’s auto business has faced challenges in the last few quarters. Tesla Energy will be essential in picking up the slack from the loss in vehicle sales, as well as in powering the renewable energy that will ensure the fleet is more sustainable than ever.
Wrapping Up
Putting it all together, the 2024 Impact Report tells us that Tesla has a plan. Superior safety creates a desirable product. A low cost of ownership makes that product accessible to everyone. A booming energy business powers the whole ecosystem sustainably and profitably. Each pillar reinforces the others, creating a cycle that is accelerating Tesla's growth and its mission.
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Following the recent departure of longtime deputy Omead Afshar, Elon Musk has stepped up to personally oversee Tesla’s sales operations in North America and Europe, according to a new report from Bloomberg, which cites people familiar with the matter.
This is a big shake-up that places Elon directly in charge of fixing Tesla’s sales slump in two key markets. The move has come as Tesla reported nearly on-the-ball deliveries for Q2 2025, hitting 384k deliveries, against a consensus street estimate of 385k deliveries.
New Leadership Structure
According to the report, Afshar’s former responsibilities are being divided between Elon and Senior VP Tom Zhu. Elon will now directly oversee the sales organizations in the US and Europe. As part of this change, Troy Jones, Tesla’s VP of North America Sales, will now report to Elon.
Tom Zhu, who is based in China, will continue to manage sales in Asia while also taking on the critical new responsibility of overseeing global manufacturing operations. Leadership of Tesla’s factories in Fremont, California, and Texas will now report to Tom. Tesla Energy’s factories will still report to Michael Snyder, VP of Energy and Charging.
For now, we’re unsure whether this is a temporary management structure, if the reporting lines will shift, or if Tesla will either hire or promote a new Senior VP of Sales to cover the duties.
Tackling the Sales Slump
The restructuring is a response to the recent downturn in sales. Analysts estimated that Tesla would deliver approximately 385k vehicles, which they essentially managed to achieve. However, deliveries fell short of production numbers, with Tesla delivering just 373k of the 410k vehicles produced.
This situation is particularly challenging in Central Europe. Europe has been noted as Tesla’s weakest market, according to Elon. Interestingly, Elon previously stated in several interviews over the last few months that there was no demand issue, but it now seems that there have been some issues with growing sales.
With Tesla’s new vehicle registrations across Europe having plunged 37% since the start of this year, and the rollout of the new affordable model, as well as more affordable versions of the Model 3 and Model Y seemingly delayed, there is a lot to do. Some analysts are projecting a second consecutive annual decline in Tesla’s global car sales for 2025.
The Rise of Tom Zhu
A key note in this reshuffle is the return of Tom Zhu to a top global operations role. Tom had previously led the construction and ramp-up of Giga Shanghai and was then promoted to Senior VP of Automotive Operations in 2023. Last year, he was sent back to China to focus on tackling regulatory hurdles with the launch of FSD in China.
His return to overseeing global manufacturing, even while staying in China, is a significant vote of confidence in his abilities. It also comes as Chinese authorities have begun drafting new autonomy guidelines to clear a path for the broader rollout of both Supervised and potentially Unsupervised FSD.
Wrap Up
This major restructuring shows that Elon is once again focused on Tesla and plans to personally tackle the company’s biggest issues. This will require a careful hand, as Elon’s forays into politics have caused self-admitted brand damage. If anyone can turn this around and have the Model Y return as the Best-Selling Vehicle of 2026, having just missed out by a few thousand vehicles to the Toyota RAV4, it is Elon.
Alongside him, Tom Zhu will be responsible for streamlining global manufacturing and ensuring that Tesla is ready to launch their new affordable variants in the near future, which should also make a considerable dent in sales.
Tesla has released its Q2 2025 production and delivery numbers, revealing an improvement in production and deliveries over Q1, but still down from a year ago.
Tesla produced 410,244 vehicles in Q2, nearly equal to their production a year ago, which was 410,831 vehicles. Production for this quarter was significantly up compared to Q1 2025, which only saw 362,615 vehicles produced. While production numbers matched those of a year ago, actual deliveries were down.
Q2 2025 saw Tesla deliver 384,122 vehicles, which was down approximately 59,000 units compared to the same period last year, but up by approximately 48,000 vehicles, or about 14% compared to Q1.
Breakdown by Model
The Model 3/Y segment continues to dominate Tesla’s production profile, accounting for 396,835 units produced and 373,728 delivered in Q2 2025. Deliveries for the “Other Models” category—which includes the Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X—were down compared to the previous quarter, with just 10,394 vehicles delivered, a 20% decline. Compared to a year ago, the drop for these vehicles is even more drastic, with sales being down 52%. Tesla refreshed its Model S and Model X last month with new features; however, the update was much smaller than expected and likely didn’t help much in increasing sales for these vehicles.
Tesla doesn’t break down Cybertruck sales separately, but those deliveries are expected to be down as well.
Tesla noted that 2% of total deliveries this quarter were accounted for under operating lease agreements, consistent with the same quarter last year.
Quarter
Production
Deliveries
Model 3/Y Deliveries
Other Models Deliveries
Lease Share
Q2 2025
410,244
384,122
373,728
10,394
2%
Q1 2025
362,615
336,681
323,800
12,881
4%
Q2 2024
410,831
443,956
422,405
21,551
2%
Context and Market Response
While the numbers exceeded some bearish expectations, the year-over-year delivery drop is Tesla’s second straight quarterly decline. Analysts attribute declining sales to increasing EV competition and reputation issues.
Still, investors found relief in the improved quarter when compared to Q1. The stock rebounded about 4% yesterday on the news.