When Tesla releases its first quarter earnings this afternoon, the company’s CEO Elon Musk will field the usual questions about new products, new factories, and progress toward its futuristic vision of self-driving cars and robot workers. But Musk will also face increasingly urgent questions about its current state of affairs — and why everything seems to be going to shit.

Earlier this month, the company reported its first year-over-year sales drop in four years, a sign of rougher waters ahead. Tesla’s stock has fallen more than 40 percent since the start of the year, including a 13 percent drop in the last week. The company laid off over 14,000 employees last week, 10 percent of its global workforce — which could end up being closer to 20 percent when all’s said and done, according to Bloomberg. Today’s earnings report is expected to include Tesla’s lowest profit margins in six years, a sign that rampant price-cutting continues to exact a toll.

  • istanbullu
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    7 months ago

    Tesla’s biggest market is China, not America. Elon’s antics are not the cause of this drop. Selling Teslas in China getting harder due to American policies against China. How many Teslas do you think they will let Elon sell if the US bans Tiktok?

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      I thought you nailed it, but then I read past the first sentence. Tesla is failing in China because they can’t compete with price. Even a lot of the luxury models are now cheaper than a Tesla.

      • designatedhacker@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Exactly BYD is their biggest problem. Also they can’t claim higher build quality so you’d really pay more for just the brand.