They said it couldn't be done
Tesla
What they said
“There's always the possibility another carmaker will surpass those achievements; the experience of established brands will prove more important when it comes to improving cars over the long term.”
What actually happened
Revenue / Deliveries
$97.7B revenue, 1.81M vehicles delivered
by December 2023
The Founder
The Numbers
Jun 2010
Jun 2012
May 2013
Jan 2020
Oct 2021
Dec 2023
The Journey
June 2012
LaunchModel S deliveries begin. Motor Trend Car of the Year 2013.
May 2013
MilestoneFirst profitable quarter in company history; early DOE loan repayment announced.
March 2016
MilestoneModel 3 pre-orders: 325,000 in 72 hours at $1,000 deposit each — $14B in demand.
December 2020
MilestoneAdded to S&P 500 — largest addition in index history.
December 2023
Milestone$97.7B revenue, 1.81M vehicles delivered globally.
The Pattern
“The loudest voices said stop. They shipped anyway.”
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