Usman Salis
● Tesla just posted some impressive Q3 numbers that show the company firing on all cylinders. CFO Vaibhav Taneja walked through the results in a webcast (shared by Muskonomy), revealing record-breaking vehicle deliveries, energy deployments, and a massive $4 billion in free cash flow. The company's cash pile grew to over $41 billion, giving Tesla plenty of runway for what comes next.
● The revenue story tells it all: $28.1 billion this quarter, up from $25.2 billion last year and $23.4 billion in 2023, according to JonErlichman. Back in 2016, Tesla was pulling in just $2.3 billion—so we're talking about more than 10x growth in under a decade. That's the kind of trajectory that shows Tesla has evolved way beyond just making electric cars.
● The Model Y remains the bestseller globally, with strong sales in China, Asia-Pacific, and North America. Tesla's also expanding its Robotaxi service in Austin and the Bay Area, making real moves in autonomous transportation. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Mega Factory is scaling up to help buffer against tariff headwinds and keep production flowing smoothly.
● Automotive revenue jumped 29%, and operating margins improved to 15.4%—signs that Tesla's getting more efficient as it grows. Taneja pointed out that the company is "laying the foundation for the next phase of growth driven by AI and real-world innovation," pointing to heavier R&D spending on Optimus humanoid robots and Full Self-Driving tech.
Usman Salis
