So, just to sum it up:
Model X and Model S prices have been cut again
Q1 is now projected to be a loss
When asked what the profit margin of the $35k Model 3 is, Musk responded "Yeah, we're not going to answer questions like that. Next question."
Musk said all US reservation holders who place an order will get it by the end of next quarter, meaning that, at most, the fabled 400,000 reservation list is actually, at the very most, about 80,000 (~16 weeks x 5,000 per week).
On the 2018 Q4 earnings call (Jan 30), Musk said "We expect to introduce the standard range Model 3 sometime - probably the middle of this year is a rough, rough guess." Today, the same car can be delivered in 2-4 weeks.
When asked about demand for the car, Musk said they "don't know what the demand is. We'll see. We'll find out....it's foolish to focus on the reservation list. The car is out." This is just a few weeks after he said "The demand for Model 3 is insanely high. The inhibitor is affordability. It's just like people literally don't have the money to buy the car. It's got nothing to do with desire. They just don't have enough money in their bank account" in the 2018 Q4 earnings call.
Tesla is closing stores and, as a result, laying off even more staff. This comes shortly after they touted "we've opened 27 new store and service locations, bringing out our total locations worldwide to 378" during the Q4 earnings call.
I have to admit, I never actually thought the $35k Model 3 would ever get released, even if it being released now is not what was originally promised (tax credit is less now). However, for a company that, per themselves, have nearly unlimited demand for a high margin car that is just now being sold overseas, it seems odd that they'd start selling a car that potentially has a much smaller or even negative margin (who knows, because Musk didn't want to talk about it).
Don't get me wrongI'd love my next car to be a BEV. I just don't think Musk is going to be the one delivering it.
