Tesla Was The Best Selling Premium Automaker In Q4 Of 2018

Tesla shares might have taken a big blow in the stock market after the company released its Q4 2018 production and delivery report yesterday, but the electric car maker has finished the past year with a flourish nonetheless. Tech research firm Atherton Research, for one, recently noted that by the end of 2018, Tesla had become the United States’ No. 1 premium automaker, surpassing more established rivals such as BMW.

Tesla delivered a record number of vehicles in the fourth quarter, including  63,150 Model 3, 13,500 Model S, and 14,050 Model X vehicles. That’s a total of 90,700 cars in three months, or roughly 1,000 vehicle deliveries per day, despite the company only selling the Model 3 to the US and Canada. Jean Baptiste Su, Vice-President and Principal Analyst at Atherton Research, noted in an article on Forbes that these numbers are enough to propel Tesla into the No. 1 spot in the US’ list of premium automakers.

SanJoseDriver - 1/4/2019 2:54:37 PM

-3 Boost

Queue up the "Tesla is not a premium automaker" Debbie Downer comments. The fact that an America startup was able to achieve this 7 since since the Model S launch is beyond remarkable.

Will it hold in Q1 for the US? I don't know. At least half of the cars this quarter are going overseas and the production increases are growing more gradually. They will sell more globally than Q4, but that will reduce US sales in addition to the higher cost ($1,750) factoring in rebates. I still think there will be a significant improvement this quarter to help with new sales, maybe adding a CCS charger.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 1/4/2019 3:08:47 PM

-1 Boost

@SJD- The haters can hate, but I can assure you the luxury makers are all crying in their beer. This is a huge achievement for the brand. If they can stay ahead of their obligations and grow sales in the EU and China, there future should be bright.

MDarringer - 1/4/2019 3:18:47 PM

0 Boost

Apparently SJD likes being sexist by using a term like "Debbie Downer" which (1) assumes gender and (2) demeans women. #GoodTimes

mre30 - 1/4/2019 3:50:15 PM

+3 Boost

"Debbie Downer" = offensive

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 1/4/2019 4:31:47 PM

-2 Boost

Debbie Downer, Bob's your uncle, Curious George, Even Steven, For Pete's Sake, Geez Louise, Great Scott, Jack squat.. etc. etc. Right wing posters trying to score a single point against the other side. Keep trying.

zlives - 1/4/2019 5:14:31 PM

+7 Boost

seesh, that one week in october where tesla registered more cars vs the rest of the year... nice TESLA-Rat.com article

Car4life1 - 1/4/2019 6:35:23 PM

-3 Boost

CAN EVERYONE STOP HATING ON TESLA AND TELL YOUR FAVE TO STOP PUTTING OUT PISS POOR ATTEMPTS/DESIGNS WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES

WETHER U BELIEVE TESLA IS LUXURY OR NOT, THEY ARE PRICED IN THE SAME BALL PARK AS YOUR FAVE LUX MAKE...

LUXURY MAKERS ARE COMPANIES AT THE END OF THE DAY AND RIGHT NOW, YES TESLA IS EATING THEIR LUNCH.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP

OneOfOne - 1/5/2019 12:05:05 PM

+4 Boost

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-04/musk-deletes-tweet-incorrectly-praising-tesla-after-bloomberg-fact-check-0

PUGPROUD - 1/4/2019 3:18:39 PM

+2 Boost

Enjoy it Tesla while you can...the big boys are gunning for you. Lets revisit this headline in three years time.

DinduNuffin - 1/4/2019 4:39:59 PM

-2 Boost

You said that three years ago.

DinduNuffin - 1/4/2019 4:40:28 PM

-4 Boost

If they still sold actual cars.

Truthy - 1/4/2019 3:51:10 PM

+5 Boost

Not so fast. Those are global Tesla numbers vs MB and BMW US sales, so no, they are not number one in NA nor globally.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 1/4/2019 4:16:18 PM

-2 Boost

Read it again @Truthy. Tesla is only sold in the USA and a handful of units into Canada. They are not global numbers.

countguy - 1/4/2019 4:27:14 PM

+4 Boost

Good for them. Once the major players start putting out their EV's then those numbers will drop dramatically.

DinduNuffin - 1/4/2019 4:41:28 PM

-1 Boost

They've had 6 years to do so, when are they actually coming out, and in decent numbers not limited one-offs?

zlives - 1/4/2019 7:07:13 PM

+3 Boost

whenever it becomes profitable... which seems to be getting closer in a year or two

ricks0me - 1/4/2019 5:35:34 PM

+2 Boost

CanadianComments said >>> If they can stay ahead of their obligations and grow sales in the EU and China, there future should be bright.

Rick said >>> The only way Tesla can have a bright future is by putting on their headlights... on high beam... but the future is promised to nobody

Just ask Plymouth, Olds, Mercury, Pontiac, Nash, Dusenberg, etc, etc

zlives - 1/4/2019 7:10:45 PM

0 Boost

so... as long as tesla is bought by GM or Chrysler... future is bright :)

MDarringer - 1/4/2019 7:53:46 PM

+1 Boost

VW-Ford will pummel Tesla.

Truthy - 1/4/2019 5:35:49 PM

+5 Boost

Tesla sells in China and a handful of European countries. I do not have to read again as other more reliable sources point out that it is not a factual claim. Take away the non-USA sales and Tesla drops to third. Look at global numbers and Tesla becomes an asterisk.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 1/4/2019 7:27:23 PM

0 Boost

Here is the corrected article from Forbes with correct figures (as much as they can be provided). Tesla USA sales finished ahead of some luxury automakers, but not all. Mercedes + BMW are thought to have sold a few thousand units more during 2018.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2019/01/02/tesla-is-on-track-to-become-americas-1-premium-automotive-company-ahead-of-bmw-mercedes-benz/#2ff4ab483870

Truthy - 1/4/2019 10:23:08 PM

+5 Boost

To build and sell more cars requires capital. To ship them overseas takes time and more capital reducing cash flow, cash that Tesla does not have. It will be further strapped when $2.0 billion in debt comes due this year with 900 K due in April. The stock dropped 10 percent yesterday as news of the price reduction and growing inventory came out.

mini22 - 1/5/2019 12:45:24 AM

+5 Boost

Tesla for the most part has had the market to its self for the last few years. That's going to end starting this year and should really be felt next year. I'm just waiting for Musk to sell all his shares so he can build restaurants in his tunnel boring routes or investing in food replicators on his Spacex command modules. The real question is who will eventually buy Tesla. The market is simply otherwise going to catch up and pass them.

Hauerg - 1/5/2019 8:16:38 AM

-7 Boost

Problem ks that the upcoming EVs from „real“ car companies is really disappoimting so far.

PUGPROUD - 1/5/2019 11:26:54 AM

+3 Boost

While I'll grant you that intelligentsia, techies, trend setters, tree huggers and celebrity types love the Tesla which has had the market to itself, the general public will buy from brands they trust at price points they can afford. Most car buyers (those not on sites like this) don't know whether their cars are front or rear wheel drive, proven in many surveys.

OneOfOne - 1/5/2019 12:06:23 PM

+4 Boost

#facts. the story is a lie. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-04/musk-deletes-tweet-incorrectly-praising-tesla-after-bloomberg-fact-check-0

Truthy - 1/5/2019 12:25:32 PM

+6 Boost

Two analysts have predicted a stock price crash for Tesla of greater than 70 percent. The stock price now is a multiple of 100 times earnings. This is simply not sustainable. No other maker will buy Tesla until that price is at a multiple closer to 10:1.

PUGPROUD - 1/5/2019 1:47:21 PM

+3 Boost

Right on. No matter how successful a car company you are eventually you carry an industry multiple within a given range.

Truthy - 1/5/2019 2:02:57 PM

+3 Boost

Irrational exuberance. Many investors are Tesla fanboys and using emotion instead of rational.