Despite persistent supply chain concerns, manufacturing closures induced by COVID-19 limits, and other hurdles, Tesla managed to expand production in the first quarter of 2022.
Last quarter, Tesla manufactured 305,407 vehicles, including 291,189 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles and 14,218 Model S and Model X vehicles, according to the firm. Tesla said it delivered 310,000 units between January and March, which is higher than the previous three months.
According to Engadget, Tesla deliveries are up 68 percent year over year, with 184,400 vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2021. Given the supply chain issues that have prompted Tesla and other automakers to react to component shortages, this is a significant increase.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, addressed some of these issues on Twitter:
This was an *exceptionally* difficult quarter due to supply chain interruptions & China zero Covid policy.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 2, 2022
Outstanding work by Tesla team & key suppliers saved the day.
In the immediate term, the pandemic will continue to have an influence on Tesla's production capacities. According to Bloomberg, Shanghai's so-called Gigafactory will stay closed on April 4 as the city maintains a lockdown in response to an increase in COVID-19 infections.
However, Tesla inaugurated a new Gigafactory in Germany on March 22 that is estimated to be able to produce half a million vehicles per year once it is fully operational. However, the Gigafactory isn't expected to produce that many vehicles until 2025, according to Tesla.
Tesla said it will release its first-quarter financial results on April 20 and hold a webcast to "review the Company's financial and business results and expectations."