Tesla hits production targets for 2015

TESLA has delivered a record-setting 17,192 Model S vehicles in the final three months of 2015, combined with a further 208 units of its new Model X all-electric SUV, totalling of 50,580 worldwide deliveries for the year and exceeding its target by 580 units.

Although the Californian technology company is quick to downplay surpassing this target as an indication of financial success, the number of Model S units delivered to customers in Q4 2015 is nearly double that of the previous record quarter, and 75 per cent more than the same period in 2014.

As previously reported, Tesla had revised its production expectations in August for the Model S, predicting between 50,000 and 55,000 units by year’s end, which was down from the optimistic 60,000 it had originally estimated in 2014.

One reason for the adjustment is the introduction of Tesla’s first crossover the Model X, which has poached resources from the Model S, as both cars share the same assembly line and critical components, including the battery packs.

However, Tesla Australia communications and marketing manager Heath Walker is quick to point out that these numbers are not sales figures, but instead a measure of how many cars customers have taken home.

“What’s being counted here is deliveries to the end customer, so Model S’ being given to a customer,” he said.

“A sale is a point of order for us, so we could actually call a sale when someone actually orders their vehicle online and pays an amount of money online towards that vehicle. However, we don’t make the count until the vehicle is delivered.”

While Tesla do not release regional data or sales figures, its upcoming fourth quarter 2015 earnings call is expected to be where Tesla founder Elon Musk announces revisions to future production numbers of both Model S and Model X, as well as the Tesla's revenue and losses.