Model Y Best Selling Vehicle Worldwide
Tesla’s achievement of producing the best-selling car in the world in the first quarter of the year with its Model Y represents a significant milestone in the company’s mission to accelerate global electric vehicle (EV) adoption. However, this success may have come at the cost of lower profit margins, as indicated by a new report from JATO Dynamics and Motor1.com.
Tesla sold 267,200 Model Ys in Q1, a 69% increase compared to the previous year. This propelled the Model Y to the top spot, surpassing the Toyota Corolla, which sold 256,400 units globally. JATO’s data encompassed 53 international markets and provided estimates for the remaining global markets. This achievement signifies a potential sales trend for the Model Y, positioning it as a contender for the global sales leader in 2023.
JATO’s industry specialist, Felipe Munoz, attributed Tesla’s success to the Model Y being an electric SUV, a winning combination in the current market. He also highlighted the advantage of the Corolla being a truly global product, available in almost every country, making it less susceptible to geopolitical clashes such as those between China and the United States.
Further analysis by JATO revealed that China accounted for 35% of all Model Y sales, closely followed by the United States at 31%. Compared to the previous year, Model Y sales in China grew by 26% and an impressive 68% in the US. The Model Y also claimed the top-selling vehicle position in the European Union.
Among the top five selling vehicles globally, the remaining spots were occupied by Toyota vehicles, including the Corolla, Hilux pickup, RAV4/Wildlander CUV, and Camry sedan.
While Tesla continues to expand its market presence and plans to introduce a more affordable generation-3 vehicle, the company experienced a decline in gross margins in Q1 due to price cuts. Tesla implemented several price reductions in the US, Asia, and some European markets during that period. The company reported a gross margin of 19.3%, reflecting the impact of these price adjustments.
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, remains unconcerned about the decrease in gross margins, aligning it with his long-term vision for the company. Musk believes that focusing on higher volumes and a larger fleet rather than lower volume and higher margins is the right strategic choice. He envisions generating significant profits in the future through services like full-self driving (FSD) and autopilot autonomy services, considering the current phase as the groundwork for future margin optimization.
Investors and industry experts will closely monitor the trend of rising Model Y sales in Q2, particularly in the US where the federal EV tax credit is available for the entire quarter. However, the company may face some challenges in China due to recent macroeconomic weakness in the country.
TSLA Stock Price Forecast & Analysis
According to the Tesla Inc stock forecast provided by 48 analysts, the average analyst target price for the company over the next 12 months is USD 203.89. This indicates a potential upside in the stock price, suggesting an optimistic outlook among analysts. Additionally, the average analyst rating for Tesla Inc is “Buy,” indicating a positive sentiment towards the company’s prospects.
Stock Target Advisor’s own stock analysis of Tesla Inc leans slightly bullish. This analysis takes into account 11 positive signals and 5 negative signals, suggesting a favorable view on the stock. Investors should consider multiple perspectives and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.
As of the last closing, Tesla Inc’s stock price was USD 193.17. Over the past week, the stock price has increased by +2.28%, indicating some short-term positive momentum. Similarly, over the past month, the stock price has experienced a significant gain of +17.56%, suggesting a strong performance in the recent period. However, over the last year, Tesla Inc’s stock price has declined by -23.71%, indicating a negative trend in the longer term.
