According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it is ‘plausible’ that the Tesla Model Y will become the best-selling car in the world in the near future. That is what the eccentric billionaire claimed on the presentation of Tesla’s quarterly figures. The car manufacturer again recorded black figures in the first three months of this year.
The first quarter of the year did not exactly harm Tesla. With 184,800 copies, the brand delivered more cars than expected and thus achieved a turnover of almost $ 10.9 billion, which is more than € 9 billion. The converted operating profit amounts to € 492 million. Tesla says it has achieved a reduction in production costs, which has increased the margin per car. Partly responsible for the profit is the proceeds from the sale of bitcoins, which amounted to $ 272 million (€ 225 million). With that transaction, Tesla made a profit of 100 million dollars (€ 82.8 million) on the investment, financial director Zachary Kirkhorn said.
That sale does not mean that Tesla will dispose of the crypto currency in the bulky waste. “We believe in the long-term value of bitcoin,” said Kirkhorn. “Our intention is to hold on to what we have for the long term and to continue to collect bitcoins from the sale of our cars.” In early February, Tesla announced that it had invested $ 1.5 billion in bitcoins and that it wanted to accept the digital currency as a means of payment in the future. According to CEO Elon Musk, the sale was mainly to prove that bitcoins can be an alternative to cash for Tesla. He tweeted that he has not sold any bitcoins that he personally owns.
Model Y new bestseller?
In the presentation of the quarterly results, Tesla indicates that the Model Y has the potential to become “the best-selling vehicle of any kind globally.” In other words, the best-selling car in the world. According to Tesla, the production rate of the Model Y in Shanghai is improving rapidly and progress is also being made when it comes to the two new factories in Berlin and Texas. Musk reaffirms the claim on Twitter: “It seems quite likely based on projected sales in 2022 and the likely total number of cars in 2023,” he said in response to a twitterer citing the statement. It is not the first time that Musk has set the bar high. It remains to be seen whether the prediction will eventually become reality.