In leaked email, Elon Musk says Tesla is very close to setting a record for deliveries in one quarter. But whether the company pulls it off comes down to one of the things it struggles with most

Elon Musk

Tesla is close to setting a record for the number of vehicles delivered in one quarter, and delivery logistics will play an important role in determining whether that record is broken, CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday in an email to employees.
"We already have enough vehicle orders to set a record, but the right cars are not yet all in the right locations," Musk said. "Logistics and final delivery are extremely important, as well as finding demand for vehicle variants that are available locally, but can't reach people who ordered that variant before end of quarter."
Tesla's second-quarter delivery numbers will face particularly intense scrutiny because the company's first-quarter deliveries fell well below those of the prior quarter.
Strong second-quarter delivery numbers, even if they don't set a company record, could restore confidence in the demand for Tesla's vehicles and help push the company back to profitability.
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Tesla is close to setting a record for the number of vehicles delivered in one quarter, and delivery logistics will play an important role in deciding whether that record is broken, CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday in an email to employees.

"We already have enough vehicle orders to set a record, but the right cars are not yet all in the right locations," Musk said. "Logistics and final delivery are extremely important, as well as finding demand for vehicle variants that are available locally, but can't reach people who ordered that variant before end of quarter."

The current quarterly delivery record, 90,700 vehicles, was set during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The email reiterates a sentiment Musk expressed at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting on June 11, during which he said the company had a "decent shot" of breaking its quarterly delivery record. Internal documents viewed by Business Insider suggested that the electric-car maker was not on pace to break the record between late May and early June, based on a criterion described by Musk in a May 22 email to employees.

Tesla's second-quarter delivery numbers will face particularly intense scrutiny because the company's first-quarter deliveries fell well below those of the prior quarter. Some analysts said the disappointing first-quarter numbers suggested a decrease in demand for Tesla's vehicles, but the company blamed logistical challenges related to international deliveries and seasonal trends.

Strong second-quarter delivery numbers, even if they don't set a company record, could restore confidence in the demand for Tesla's vehicles and help push the company back to profitability. (Tesla estimates it will be profitable in the third quarter but not in the second.)

Weak delivery numbers could intensify concerns about demand and the company's chances of achieving consistent profitability. Tesla has produced four profitable quarters in its 16-year history, including two in the second half of 2018, when delivery numbers reached record highs.

You can read Musk's full email below:

As you may have noticed, there is a lot of speculation regarding our vehicle deliveries this quarter. The reality is that we are on track to set an all-time record, but it will be very close. However, if we go all out, we can definitely do it!

We already have enough vehicle orders to set a record, but the right cars are not yet all in the right locations. Logistics and final delivery are extremely important, as well as finding demand for vehicle variants that are available locally, but can't reach people who ordered that variant before end of quarter.

I have great faith in you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thanks,

Elon

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