In a sign of concern for the autonomous software plan, the US auto safety regulator on Friday opened an investigation into 2.4-million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD software after four reported collisions, including a fatal crash in 2023.
Tesla cars drove more than 2.57-billion kilometres using FSD, including the latest version of the advanced driver assistance software, Tesla said at the end of the second quarter. It is offering interest-free financing for those who buy FSD during their purchase of Model 3 or Model Y cars.
Margin
Some Wall Street analysts, however, have shifted their focus from the Cybercab event. “With Tesla’s Robotaxi Day passed, we believe the focus for Tesla at least for now shifts back to fundamentals,” Barclays analysts said in a note last week.
Wall Street expects Tesla to report 14.9% automotive gross margin, excluding regulatory credits, for the three-month period ended September 30, according to 23 analysts polled by Visible Alpha. In the second quarter, Tesla recorded 14.6%.
The company has cut prices to stimulate demand amid high interest rates but with limited success. It has offered incentives and low-cost financing options, especially in China.
Analysts expect this to hurt its margin, a metric in which Tesla long had an edge over traditional carmakers.
Annual deliveries
Tesla’s challenge is to beat last year’s delivery numbers and it is expected to update its annual forecast.
Unless Tesla hands over more than 516,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter — typically the strongest period for US car sales — it is likely to post a slight drop in annual deliveries.