Tesla published its final production and delivery numbers this morning, and they are worth a read. Sales were down nearly 16 percent during the last three months of last year, meaning the company sold 77,343 fewer electric vehicles compared to the same period in 2024.
For the full year, the decline looks slightly better with an 8.6 percent decline year on year. This means Tesla sold 1,636,129 cars in 2025, which is 153,097 fewer than in 2024. Which in turn is more than shifted to 2023.
sales issues
There are many factors that contribute to poor sales. The brand is still largely dependent on the Model 3 and Y, and apart from a mild cosmetic refresh, neither feels fresh or modern compared to competitors in Europe and Asia.
And Elon Musk’s much-hyped Cybertruck — which was supposed to cost less than $40,000 and go into production in 2021, lest anyone forget — has turned out to be a disaster, eclipsing the Edsel. Its failure has doomed another company initiative, Tesla’s “in-house battery cell.” It was initially designed specifically for the Cybertruck, though the CEO later claimed that it would be used for static storage as well as EVs. But apparently it has become a victim of lack of demand. Last week, Electrek reported that L&F, Tesla’s South Korean battery material supplier, reduced its $2.9 billion contract with Tesla to just $7,386. A decline of more than 99 percent.
Musk hasn’t shied away from embracing far-right, poor-selling tactics in markets like California and Europe, where EV buyers often use their conscience to guide their wallets.
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