Tesla's Deliveries Are Down Sharply. Is it Time to Worry?

Core Viewpoint - Tesla's growth appears to have stalled as the company reported a significant decline in vehicle deliveries, attributed to various external factors including protests and boycotts [1][6]. Delivery Performance - Tesla delivered 336,681 vehicles in Q1 2025, falling approximately 14% short of Wall Street estimates of over 390,000 [3]. - Deliveries were down about 13% year-over-year and down 32% from Q4 2024 [3]. - Production was 362,615 vehicles, which is about 7.7% more than deliveries, but still reflects a 16.3% decrease compared to Q1 2024 [5]. Model-Specific Insights - Deliveries of Models 3 and Y decreased by 12% year-over-year, while deliveries of "other models," including the Cybertruck, dropped 46% from Q4 2024 [4]. - The decline in "other models" suggests potential issues with the sales of the Cybertruck [4]. External Factors Impacting Sales - Protests and boycotts in the U.S. and Europe have negatively impacted potential EV buyers' interest in Tesla [1][6]. - Tesla's market share in Europe fell from 17.9% a year ago to 9.3% in Q1 2024 [7]. Leadership and Market Sentiment - CEO Elon Musk's political involvement has been unpopular among potential buyers, contributing to the decline in sales [6]. - There are indications that Musk may reduce his political role, which has led to a positive market reaction, reversing a stock dip into a gain [9]. Valuation Concerns - Tesla's current valuation is significantly higher than that of traditional automakers, with a price-to-sales ratio over 10 times that of Ford and General Motors, and roughly four times that of Rivian [10].