Tesla: Record Profits in 2021, No New Releases Before 2023

During its record-breaking financial results, Tesla confirms that it will not launch any new model in 2022, with the Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster waiting at least until next year.

Tesla is doing well, thank you. After many years of financial losses, the brand now reports significant profits. Thanks to an 87% increase in sales compared to 2020 (936,000 units), the American company set records in 2021.

Tesla profits multiplied by 6

The manufacturer published a revenue of $53.8 billion in 2021 (€47.6 billion), a rise of 71%. Most notably, it posted a massive profit of $5.52 billion (€4.89 billion). This is six times more than in 2020 (€638 million), achieving a margin of 14.7%.

Tesla still issues a warning. “Our factories operated below capacity for several quarters” reports the company, “because the supply chain has become the main limiting factor, which is expected to continue through 2022.”

Another additional data point: the number of Supercharger fast chargers has surpassed 30,000. There are now exactly 31,498 worldwide, compared to 23,277 a year ago, across 3,500 stations.

Priority on volume, robotaxis, and Optimus

No surprises on the financial side, but expectations were aligned with the product plan. Tesla had not officially announced any updates for a year, unlike the quarterly updates before.

Elon Musk outlined the main points for this year. First, the European Model Y will soon emerge from the Gigafactory Berlin and Gigafactory Texas. “We have started production in both factories” assures the CEO, confirming “we are looking at other sites for future factories, with announcements this year”. In Europe, deliveries will follow after receiving the final permits in Germany.

Regarding new models, we will have to wait. “The priority is production” adds Musk, “if we launch new vehicles, our production would decrease”. He cites supply limits, especially due to “industrial reorganization”.

He even admits that the humanoid robot Optimus “will be more economically important than the automotive division in the long run”, as he sees this tool eliminate “the labor shortage”.

Another priority, Full Self-Driving (FSD) and robotaxis could even “become Tesla’s main source of revenue”. It is increasingly viewed as a cheaper transportation alternative, with Musk asking “if you can travel 16 km for $2, why take the bus?”. However, it remains uncertain whether millions of Teslas will be more environmentally friendly than public transportation.

Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster postponed to 2023

Elon Musk was clear: “We will not introduce any new models this year”. The three anticipated models—the Semi truck, Cybertruck pickup, and Roadster sports car—will at best be released next year.

The Semi truck would begin production in 2023 at the Austin site. This is still six years after its 2017 reveal. The future Roadster was also part of that presentation, but it remains apparently the last priority for the brand.

What about the most discussed vehicle for the past two years, the Cybertruck? Unveiled in November 2019, the electric pickup was supposed to be released in 2021 but also uses the Texas plant already busy with the famous 4680 cells. We expected more information about its lineup, which has disappeared from the official website. But Tesla has provided no updates.

We will rely on the December tweets about a new version with 4 motors and 4-wheel steering. Before its release, the Ford F-150 Lightning will have already proven itself.

The $25,000 Tesla abandoned?

In September 2019, during the Battery Day, Elon Musk announced a new democratization. The compact Tesla was supposed to join the lineup starting in 2023. However, delays, supply chain issues, and chip shortages have intervened.

Elon Musk’s comments on Wednesday do not reassure. “For now, we are not working on the $25,000 model” states the leader. We could hardly expect this Model 2/Model C to debut the same year as the Cybertruck, Semi, or Roadster. But will the compact model ever be updated?

The focus is on numbers, with Elon Musk still expecting growth of “well over +50%”. As a result, Tesla will probably reach around 1.5 million cars in 2022.

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