Tesla reports surprise increase in car sales in the third quarter

Core Insights - Tesla experienced a surprising 7% increase in sales during the third quarter, attributed to consumer rush to utilize a $7,500 credit before its expiration on September 30 [1][2][3] Sales Performance - Sales rose to 497,099 vehicles in the third quarter, compared to 462,890 in the same period last year, defying analyst expectations of a slight decline to 456,000 [2][3] - This increase follows two consecutive quarters of significant sales declines, with a 13% drop in the first quarter and another 13% decline in the second quarter [6] Market Reaction - Tesla's stock rose nearly 2% to $468.52 following the sales news, reflecting investor optimism [3] - The stock had previously surged 34% in September, driven by expectations surrounding a new, cheaper version of the Model Y, which is anticipated to launch in the current quarter or early next year [4] Strategic Focus - The increase in stock price also indicates a successful shift in focus from car sales to other business aspects, including the rollout of a driverless robotaxi service and the development of Optimus robots for various applications [5] Competitive Landscape - Despite the recent sales increase, Tesla's profits fell 16% in the previous quarter, as the company continues to face market share losses to European electric vehicle manufacturers and rapidly growing Chinese competitors like BYD [7]