Key Highlights
- Tesla shares declined roughly 1% on Tuesday, hovering around $354 per share
- Analysts anticipate Q3 deliveries near 463,000 vehicles, representing a 7% decline from the previous year
- JPMorgan reduced its Q3 projection to 482,000 units, citing headwinds in the Chinese and American markets
- Chinese wholesale figures increased 19% annually, though domestic retail numbers dropped 21%
- The automaker postponed its Roadster unveiling by two weeks to October 15, blaming weather forecasts
Shares of Tesla (TSLA) declined approximately 1% during Tuesday’s session, trading around $354 per share. Investors are awaiting the electric vehicle manufacturer’s third quarter delivery figures, anticipated later this week.
Analysts on Wall Street are projecting Tesla will report approximately 463,000 vehicle deliveries for Q3. This projection represents a 7% decline versus the 497,000 units reported during the same period last year.
The previous year’s third quarter benefited from the availability of the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax incentive, which remained in effect then. With that credit no longer available, year-over-year comparisons become more challenging.
Tesla has managed to mitigate some of this headwind. The automaker has captured additional market share within the domestic electric vehicle segment throughout this year.
Sales across European territories have shown improvement as well. The Shanghai manufacturing facility is now shipping more vehicles to international markets, helping compensate for some weakness elsewhere.
Geographic Performance Analysis
JPMorgan analyst Rajat Gupta provided a regional breakdown in a recent client communication. European Union registrations tracked approximately 9% lower on a year-over-year basis overall.
French and German markets demonstrated resilience, though the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain weakened the overall average. Performance across Europe remains inconsistent.
The Chinese market presented a contrasting narrative. Wholesale volumes during July and August, which include export figures, climbed 19% compared to the prior year.
Export shipments from China surged 92% year-over-year throughout this timeframe. Meanwhile, domestic retail activity within China declined an estimated 21% during the identical period.
JPMorgan revised its Q3 delivery projection downward to 482,000 vehicles. The investment bank attributed the reduction to weakness observed in both American and Chinese markets.
One positive factor for Tesla is its supervised Full Self-Driving technology. The automaker reported FSD subscriptions reached 1.48 million by Q2’s conclusion, representing a 56% increase from twelve months prior.
The majority of these subscribers are presumably located in the United States. Favorable feedback regarding the software may have provided support for domestic sales throughout the quarter.
Roadster Unveiling Rescheduled
Tesla’s quarterly delivery report is anticipated Friday. This announcement follows closely after the company rescheduled its highly anticipated Roadster unveiling.
The unveiling was initially planned for Thursday, October 1. Tesla announced on Monday it would reschedule the event to October 15.
“We’ve been tracking the weather closely with local meteorologists, but given the severe conditions predicted and because this event can only be held outdoors, we’ve made the difficult decision to reschedule,” the company stated in an X post.
The announcement’s timing surprised many observers. Some speculate Tesla may require additional preparation time for the vehicle.
The Information previously reported the unveiling might showcase a special edition Roadster equipped with cold-gas propulsion technology developed with SpaceX. This variant could reportedly achieve hovering capabilities or brief flight intervals.
An outdoor location would be appropriate for such a demonstration. Tesla’s statement regarding weather conditions aligns with these earlier reports.
Tesla initially revealed the next-generation Roadster in 2017. Early reservation holders submitted deposits with initial expectations for deliveries beginning in 2020.
These initial customers have already experienced delays extending several years beyond the original timeline. The revised October 15 date extends their wait by an additional two weeks.





