Tesla's Earnings Surprise: Why 2024 Wasn't Their Year

Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings report wasn't what Wall Street expected. They made about $25. 71 billion, which was less than the predicted $27. 22 billion. This news caused their stock to drop by about 4%. The company's been facing tough competition from cheaper electric cars, especially from China's BYD, which took the top spot in the last quarter of 2023. Despite a comeback in 2024 thanks to price cuts, Tesla struggled in the fourth quarter. They delivered around 495, 570 cars, making their annual total about 1. 8 million. This was actually a first for them — a year-over-year drop. They couldn't meet their quarterly targets. Europe has been a challenge. With less support for electric cars, Tesla's car registrations dropped by 24% in October. Some people think demand could pick up if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates. Their new Cybertruck, with a unique design but a high price tag of nearly $80, 000, didn't boost sales as expected. It couldn't make up for the decrease in sales of their older models. Remember the "Cybercab"? Elon Musk's idea for a self-driving taxi? It's not happening anytime soon. Analysts say fully autonomous driving tech is still in development. Plus, Tesla's facing a federal probe due to fatal crashes linked to their "full self-driving" feature. Elon Musk has even talked about leaving the company after disputes over his pay. But despite all this, Tesla's stock has surged over 100% in the last year. Investors seem confident, possibly due to Musk's relationship with former President Trump, who threatened tariffs on Chinese cars.