Markets
Charted: Tesla’s Unrivaled Profit Margins
Chart: Tesla’s Unrivaled Profit Margins
In January this year, Tesla made the surprising announcement that it would be cutting prices on its vehicles by as much as 20%.
While price cuts are not new in the automotive world, they are for Tesla. The company, which historically has been unable to keep up with demand, has seen its order backlog shrink from 476,000 units in July 2022, to 74,000 in December 2022.
This has been attributed to Tesla’s robust production growth, which saw 2022 production increase 41% over 2021 (from 930,422 to 1,313,851 units).
With the days of “endless” demand seemingly over, Tesla is going on the offensive by reducing its prices—a move that puts pressure on competitors, but has also angered existing owners.
Cranking up the Heat
Tesla’s price cuts are an attempt to protect its market share, but they’re not exactly the desperation move some media outlets have claimed them to be.
Recent data compiled by Reuters shows that Tesla’s margins are significantly higher than those of its rivals, both in terms of gross and net profit. Our graphic only illustrates the net figures, but gross profits are also included in the table below.
Company | Gross profit per car | Net profit per car |
---|---|---|
🇺🇸 Tesla | $15,653 | $9,574 |
🇺🇸 GM | $3,818 | $2,150 |
🇨🇳 BYD | $5,456 | $1,550 |
🇯🇵 Toyota | $3,925 | $1,197 |
🇩🇪 VW | $6,034 | $973 |
🇰🇷 Hyundai | $5,362 | $927 |
🇺🇸 Ford | $3,115 | -$762 |
🇨🇳 Xpeng | $4,565 | -$11,735 |
🇨🇳 Nio | $8,036 | -$19,141 |
Data from Q3 2022
Price cutting has its drawbacks, but one could argue that the benefits for Tesla are worth it based on this data—especially in a critical market like China.
Tesla has taken the nuclear option to bully the weaker, thin margin players off the table.
– Bill Russo, Automobility
In the case of Chinese EV startups Xpeng and Nio, net profits are non-existent, meaning it’s unlikely they’ll be able to match Tesla’s reductions in price. Both firms have reported year-on-year sales declines in January.
As for Tesla, Chinese media outlets have claimed that the firm received 30,000 orders within three days of its price cut announcement. Note that this hasn’t been officially confirmed by anyone within the company.
Tit for Tat
Ford made headlines recently for announcing its own price cuts on the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. The model is a direct competitor to Tesla’s best-selling Model Y.
Chevrolet and Hyundai have also adjusted some of their EV prices in recent months, as listed in the following table.
Model | Old Price | New Price | Discount |
---|---|---|---|
Tesla Model Y Long Range | $65,990 | $53,490 | 18.9% |
Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2023 | $33,500 | $27,200 | 18.8% |
Tesla Model Y Performance | $69,990 | $56,990 | 18.6% |
Chevrolet Bolt 2023 | $31,600 | $26,500 | 16.1% |
Tesla Model 3 Performance | $62,990 | $53,990 | 14.3% |
Hyundai Kona Electric 2022 | $37,390 | $34,000 | 9.1% |
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Extended Range | $69,900 | $64,000 | 8.4% |
Tesla Model 3 Long Range | $46,990 | $43,990 | 6.4% |
Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD | $57,675 | $53,995 | 6.4% |
Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD Standard Range | $46,900 | $46,000 | 1.9% |
Source: Observer (Feb 2023)
Volkswagen is a noteworthy player missing from this table. The company has been gaining ground on Tesla, especially in the European market.
We have a clear pricing strategy and are focusing on reliability. We trust in the strength of our products and brands.
– Oliver Blume, CEO, VW Group
This decision could hamper Volkswagen’s goal of becoming a dominant player in EVs, especially if more automakers join Tesla in cutting prices. For now, Tesla still holds a strong grip on the US market.
Thanks, Elon
Recent Tesla buyers became outraged when the company announced it would be slashing prices on its cars. In China, buyers even staged protests at Tesla stores and delivery centers.
Recent buyers not only missed out on a better price, but their cars have effectively depreciated by the amount of the cut. This is a bitter turn of events, given Musk’s 2019 claims that a Tesla would be an appreciating asset.
I think the most profound thing is that if you buy a Tesla today, I believe you are buying an appreciating asset – not a depreciating asset.
– Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla
These comments were made in reference to Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) capabilities, which Elon claimed would enable owners to turn their cars into robotaxis.
Markets
The Best U.S. Companies to Work for According to LinkedIn
We visualized the results of a LinkedIn study on the best U.S. companies to work for in 2024.
The Best U.S. Companies to Work for According to LinkedIn
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
In this graphic, we list the 15 best U.S. companies to work for in 2024, according to LinkedIn data.
LinkedIn ranked companies based on eight pillars: ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background, and employee presence in the country.
To be eligible, companies must have had 5,000 or more global employees, with at least 500 in the country as of December 31, 2023.
Data and Highlights
Financial institutions dominate the ranking of the best U.S. companies to work for in 2024, with JP Morgan Chase & Co. ranking first.
Rank | Company | Industry |
---|---|---|
1 | JP Morgan Chase & Co. | Financial Services |
2 | Amazon | E-commerce |
3 | Wells Fargo | Financial Services |
4 | Deloitte | Professional Services |
5 | PwC | Professional Services |
6 | UnitedHealth Group | Healthcare |
7 | AT&T | Telecommunications |
8 | Verizon | Telecommunications |
9 | Moderna | Pharmaceuticals |
10 | Alphabet Inc. | Technology |
11 | General Motors | Automotive |
12 | Bank of America | Financial Services |
13 | Mastercard | Financial Services |
14 | Capital One | Financial Services |
15 | Northrop Grumman | Aerospace & Defense |
J.P. Morgan has a program that offers opportunities for candidates without a university degree. In fact, in 2022, 75% of job descriptions at the bank for experienced hires did not require a college degree.
Meanwhile, Deloitte and Amazon offer a variety of free training courses, including in AI.
Moderna includes in its employee package benefits to help avoid employee burnout — from subsidized commuter expenses and pop-up daycare centers, to wellness coaches.
Mastercard offers flexible work availability, with 11.5% remote and 89% hybrid options.
It’s also interesting to note that only Amazon and Alphabet made the cut from the ‘Magnificent Seven’ companies (Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla).
See more about the best companies to work for in this infographic, which covers a separate ranking from Glassdoor.
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