Tesla's electric car sales under pressure: delivery figures significantly miss expectations

The electric vehicle market is going through a critical phase. Tesla (TSLA.O) reported delivery figures for Q4 on Friday that significantly missed analyst forecasts. With 418,227 vehicles delivered, the result was noticeably below the analyst estimates of 434,487 units compiled by Visible Alpha and also declined compared to the previous year’s quarter with 495,570 vehicles.

Annual Balance Sheet Shows Second Consecutive Decline

The full year 2025 confirms a concerning trend: Tesla delivered a total of 1.64 million vehicles, compared to 1.79 million in the previous year. This continues the decline—already the second year in a row with decreasing delivery volumes. Experts had previously estimated around 1.65 million electric cars for the entire year. Tesla narrowly missed this forecast but failed to maintain its own momentum.

Market Challenges in the Electric Vehicle Segment

The downturn can be attributed to several factors. After the expiration of tax incentives for electric vehicles in many markets, buyer interest noticeably declined. Competitive pressure is especially increasing in two core markets: North America and Europe will become testing grounds for Tesla’s resilience in 2025. New competitors are entering the market with attractive electric vehicle models, and Musk’s polarizing public statements have also triggered brand reactions.

Future Strategies Beyond the Traditional Electric Vehicle Business

Although traditional vehicle deliveries are stagnating, Tesla is focusing on ambitious future projects. Robotics and autonomous driving are intended to stabilize the company in the medium term and legitimize its high valuation. This strategic shift signals that Tesla no longer considers the pure electric vehicle business as the sole growth driver.

Stock Market Ignores Operational Weaknesses

Interestingly, the capital market reacted unexpectedly positively: Tesla’s stock price increased by about 11.4 percent in 2025, further increasing Musk’s assets. This discrepancy between operational performance and stock price development suggests that investors are more focused on future innovations than on current electric vehicle sales.