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Tesla and Panasonic expect profitability amid improving Model 3 production ramp

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Tesla’s third quarter financial results were a pleasant surprise to Wall Street. In the days and weeks leading up to the company’s earlier-than-expected third-quarter earnings call, speculations were high that Tesla would either break-even, or post a very small profit. Neither happened, as the electric car maker posted $6.8 billion in revenue, beating earnings estimates with a GAAP profit of $312 million.

According to Elon Musk, that is just the beginning. During the third quarter earnings call, Elon Musk stated that he thinks Tesla could be cash-flow positive and profitable for all quarters moving forward. In his recent appearance at the Recode Decode podcast, Musk reiterated this point once more.

“I said earlier this year, I think we will be cash-flow positive for all quarters going forward,” Musk said, adding that he does not think Tesla would need any more investment. When asked if he believes Tesla can push through just by selling electric cars and battery storage products, Musk answered in the affirmative.

Elon Musk’s affirmation of Tesla’s profitability in the coming quarters comes amidst the equally optimistic outlook of Panasonic Corp President Kazuhiro Tsuga. In a statement to Reuters, Tsuga noted that Gigafactory 1 is on the verge of finally yielding returns for the Japanese battery maker. While Panasonic is still losing money as it ramps its battery cell production capacity in the Nevada facility, Tsuga stated that profits are likely underway in the near future.

“We will be in a position to deliver profits at a very early stage. There is no doubt about it, once we complete the current build-up. Once things settle down, you can control profit on line-by-line basis. The first ten lines are pretty much already there,” he said.

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Tsuga further remarked that Panasonic’s investment in Gigafactory 1 would likely exceed 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion) once the expansion of its production lines is complete. For now, Tsuga noted that Panasonic has 11 battery cell production lines running in the Gigafactory, though two more are expected to go online by the end of the year. The Panasonic exec further pointed out that it has dispatched more than 300 people to the Nevada facility to ensure that it can keep up with Tesla’s demands.

Panasonic Chief Financial Officer Hirokazu Umeda is optimistic about the company’s performance in the coming quarters. In a statement to reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday, Umeda remarked that Panasonic has managed to hit a threshold where it can produce batteries in the pace required by the American electric car maker.

“We are finally at a place where we can move in lock-step with Tesla and make as many batteries as they make cars. It’s a relief, because they went through hell this September. And so did we,” Tsuga said.

Aerial images of the Tesla Gigafactory as of August 28, 2018. [Credit: Joshua Mcdonald]

Elon Musk believes that Tesla’s Model 3 ramp has reached a stable point. Responding to a question about the vehicle in the recent Recode Decode podcast, Musk stated that Tesla is “over the hump” in terms of the electric sedan’s production. Musk further pointed out that Tesla could probably hit a production rate of 6,500 Model 3 per week at its current state, though the company’s employees would have to do a notable amount of overtime to achieve a target.

“For us, making 5,000 cars in a week for Model 3 is not a big deal. That’s just normal. Now we’re working on raising to 6,000 and then 7,000 Model 3s a week, while still keeping costs under control. We could probably do 6,000 or more, maybe 6,500 Model 3s a week right now, but it would have to stress people out and do tons of overtime,” he said.

With the announcement of the Mid Range Model 3 and the ongoing phase-out period for the $7,500 federal tax credit, Tesla seems poised to deliver yet another impressive quarter this Q4. Apart from Panasonic’s upgrades in Gigafactory 1 and the installation of new Grohmann machines, Tesla has also registered more than 61,000 new Model 3 VINs in October alone. That’s the equivalent of all Model 3 VINs that the company filed during the first 11 months of the electric car’s production.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Investor's Corner

Tesla welcomes Chipotle President Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors

Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.

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Credit: @ArthurFromX/X

Tesla has welcomed Chipotle president Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors. Hartung will officially start his tenure at the electric vehicle maker on June 1, 2025.

Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.

Jack Hartung’s Role

With Hartung’s addition, the Tesla Board will now have nine members. It’s been a while since the company added a new director. Prior to Hartung, the last addition to the Tesla Board was Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia back in 2022. As noted in a Reuters report, Hartung will serve on the Tesla Board’s audit committee. He will also retire from his position as president and chief strategy officer at Chipotle, and transition into a senior advisor’s role at the restaurant chain, next month.

Hartung has had a long career in the Mexican grill, joining Chipotle in 2002. He held several positions in the company, most recently serving as Chipotle’s President and Chief Strategy Officer. Tesla highlighted Hartung’s accomplishments in a post on its official account on X.

“Over the past 20+ years under Jack’s financial leadership, Chipotle has seen significant growth with over 3,700 restaurants today across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Jack was named ‘CFO of the Year’ by Orange County Business Journal and Best CFO in the restaurant category by Institutional Investor,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

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Tesla Board and Musk

Tesla is a controversial company with a controversial CEO, so it is no surprise that the Board of Directors tend to get flak as well. Two weeks ago, for example, Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm slammed The Wall Street Journal for publishing an article alleging that company directors had considered a search for a potential successor to Elon Musk. Denholm herself has also been criticized for offloading her TSLA shares.

More recently, news emerged suggesting that the Tesla Board of Directors had formed a special committee aimed at exploring a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk. The committee is reportedly comprised of Tesla board Chair Robyn Denholm and independent director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, and they would be exploring alternative compensation methods for Musk’s contributions to the company.

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Rivian stock rises as analysts boost price targets post Q1 earnings

Rivian impressed with smaller-than-expected losses & strong revenue, pushing analysts to raise price targets.

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(Credit: Rivian)

Rivian stock is gaining traction as Wall Street analysts raise price targets following the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s first-quarter earnings report. Despite a dip after the announcement, optimism surrounds Rivian’s cost control and upcoming lower-priced cars.

Last week, Rivian reported a better-than-expected Q1 gross profit, surpassing Wall Street’s forecasts with adjusted losses of $0.48 per share against expectations of $0.92 per share. The company also reported a revenue of $1.24 billion compared to the $1.01 billion anticipated.

However, the EV automaker cut its 2025 delivery forecast and capital spending due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It explained that it is “not immune to the impacts of the global trade and economic environment.” RIVN stock dropped nearly 6% post-earnings, closing at $12.72 per share.

Wall Street remains upbeat about Rivian, citing progress toward launching lower-priced vehicles in 2026 and effective cost management. On Monday, Stifel analyst Stephen Gengaro raised his RIVN price target to $18 from $16, maintaining a “Buy” rating. He highlighted Rivian’s “solid progress” toward key milestones.

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Conversely, Bernstein’s Daniel Roeska gave RIVN a “Sell” rating. However, Roeska also lifted his Rivian price target to $7.05 from $6.10, acknowledging “better” Q1 results. He warned that profitability remains distant and hinges on multiple product launches by the decade’s end.

Overall, Wall Street’s average price target for RIVN climbed from $14.18 to $14.31, a modest 13-cent increase reflecting positive sentiment. About one-third of analysts covering Rivian rate it a Buy, compared to the S&P 500’s average Buy-rating ratio of 55%.

On Monday, Rivian stock rose 2.7% to $14.64, slightly trailing the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively. The uptick may also stem from broader market gains tied to news of a temporary U.S.-China tariff suspension.

As Rivian navigates trade challenges and scales production at its Illinois factory, its Q1 performance and analyst support signal resilience. With lower-priced EVs on the horizon, Rivian’s strategic moves could bolster its position in the competitive EV market, offering investors cautious optimism for long-term growth.

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Investor's Corner

Tesla (TSLA) poised to hit $1 trillion valuation again amid reports of Trump China deal

TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket.

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tesla-model-y-giga-texas-logo
(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla shares (NASDAQ:TSLA) are on a tear on Monday’s premarket amidst reports that the United States and China have agreed to significantly roll back tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial 90-day period.

As of writing, the premarket price of TSLA shares suggests that the electric vehicle maker might end Monday with a $1 trillion valuation once more.

Tesla and China

TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket. As noted in a report from Barron’s, these prices suggest that the company could achieve a trillion-dollar valuation again, a level not seen since late February. Similar to Tesla, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were also up 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, on Monday’s premarket.

The United States and China’s decision to roll back its tariffs would likely be appreciated by CEO Elon Musk. Despite working for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and despite Tesla being least affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs due to its strong domestic supply chains in the United States, China, and Europe, Musk has noted that he is a supporter of non-predatory tariffs.

The United States and China’s Agreement

In a joint statement from the United States and China posted on the White House’s official website, the two countries agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs on each other by 115% for 90 days. This means that the United States will temporarily lower its overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, as noted in an ABC 12 report. China, on the other hand, will also lower its tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10%.

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The talks were led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as per the joint statement. Bessent shared his thoughts about the matter in a comment in Geneva. “The consensus from both delegations is neither side wants to be decoupled, and what have occurred with these very high tariffs … was an equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade. We want more balance in trade. And I think both sides are committed to achieving that,” he said. 

A spokesperson from China’s Commerce Ministry also shared a statement about the matter. As per the spokesperson, the deal was an “important step by both sides to resolve differences through equal-footing dialogue and consultation, laying the groundwork and creating conditions for further bridging gaps and deepening cooperation.”

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