Tesla's annual deliveries dropped for the first time last year, the company reported on Thursday, as the electric vehicle maker faces increasing global competition.
The company delivered roughly 1.79 million vehicles last year, short of the roughly 1.8 million vehicles it delivered in 2023. It delivered a record 495,570 vehicles in the fourth quarter, although it fell short of analysts' estimates of 504,000 to 515,000.
It needed to deliver at least 515,000 electric vehicles in the fourth quarter to surpass its 2023 annual performance.
Tesla's Model 3 and Y vehicles accounted for 1.7 million deliveries, compared to 85,000 for its other models.
Chief executive Elon Musk has maintained that the EV maker “is currently between two major growth waves”, driven by next-generation vehicles, full self-driving and other projects.
Earlier on Thursday, Tesla's chief rival for the EV market BYD reported a surge in sales. The Chinese car maker said it had sold 207,734 electric vehicles in December and 1.76 million for the year.
BYD and other Chinese car makers have been trying to increase their sales outside of China, but have faced roadblocks in other major markets such as the US, which imposed a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made EVs. The EU in October also ramped up tariffs on imported Chinese EVs to as much as 45.3 per cent.
Tesla is also facing increased competition from domestic and international car manufacturers including Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Kia. Tesla has responded by cutting prices of the Model Y, X and S.
The company's shares were trading 3.65 per cent lower at $389.12 per share during morning trading. Thursday's report followed a post-election surge for the electric car maker, whose stock ended the year up 63 per cent.
Mr Musk dominated headlines last year, spending $277 million to back president-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans during the US election campaign.
The president-elect rewarded Mr Musk by tapping him to co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (or “Doge”), which he said was designed to cut government waste.
Tesla is due to release its fourth-quarter financial results on January 29.
Saudi National Day
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Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
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- Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
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Manchester City 0
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Neighbourhood Watch
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On sale: Available for pre-order now
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Director: Louis Theroux
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The five pillars of Islam
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
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2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
