Day: April 5, 2022

Shutdowns and supply-chain issues can’t slow Tesla

Tesla produced more than 305,000 cars and delivered more than 310,000 during the first quarter of 2022. And the company achieved these numbers despite COVID outbreaks forcing two extended shutdowns at its Gigafactory in Shanghai. The factory performs final assembly of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. 

What Does This Mean For You?

We would normally say global supply and distribution issues would slow Tesla’s efforts to deliver the cars it’s selling, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. 

Tesla produced about 500 cars this quarter compared with the last quarter of 2021. That doesn’t seem like a large enough production reduction to cause alarms.

And if you’re a Tesla owner thinking about jumping ship, this could be a great time to sell your car. We even know where you can get bids from a network of dealers instead of one trade-in offer. 

Will Tesla Ever Slow Down?

These first-quarter numbers are even more impressive when compared to the same last year. In Q1 2021 Tesla made 180,338 cars and delivered 184,800.

Fred Lambert at Electrek said the next quarter will be another interesting one. The company will likely face similar shutdowns and supply problems, but Lambert said, “Otherwise, Tesla would be well-positioned to grow significantly during the current quarter as it ramps up Gigafactory Berlin and Texas.”

How Does Tesla Stack Up?

The country’s largest automaker (GM) delivered fewer than 500 EVs in the first three months of 2022. Hyundai is the only company that reported EV sales growth in the US this past quarter. 

Green Car Reports also reported sales decreases by Audi and Kia, while BMW hasn’t even begun shipping its iX and i4 EVs. 

DeJoy announced 20% of new US Postal Service vehicles will be EVs

The US Postal Service is planning to purchase more than 10,000 of these cute electric delivery vehicles as a part of its efforts to replace its aging fleet.

The US Postal Service announced it’s going to order more than 10,000 electric vehicles as a part of its larger order of 50,000 “next generation” delivery vehicles.

This announcement comes after the USPS received flak for their initial order, which included 50% fewer EVs.

US Postal Service Postmaster General on the Decision

Here’s what Louis DeJoy had to say: 

“We owe it to our carriers and the communities we serve to provide safer, more efficient vehicles to fulfill our universal service obligation to deliver to 161 million addresses in all climates and topographies six days per-week.”

Why Does the USPS Need EVs?

As it stands, EVs are significantly less expensive to fuel than gas-powered vehicles, even before gas prices began skyrocketing in March. It’s no secret that the postal service is financially stressed, so any savings are welcome. 

Additionally, current trucks lack safety features and don’t even have air conditioning. Add to that the fact that the aging fleet is getting costly to maintain. 

The electric delivery vehicles could mean the USPS can save money on fuel and maintenance while future-proofing their vehicles.

And since many postal routes are short, the USPS doesn’t need its delivery trucks to go very far between charges. That gives it a little more flexibility than other logistics and transportation organizations