Tesla Posts Record 497K Q3 Deliveries; Production Falls

Tesla reported a record 497,099 vehicle deliveries worldwide in Q3, a roughly 7–7.4% year‑over‑year gain as U.S. buyers rushed to purchase before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired on Sept. 30. The surge was led by strong Model 3 and Model Y sales and promotional financing and lease offers, but production fell year‑over‑year to about 447,410 cars built, leaving year‑to‑date deliveries below 2024 levels. Europe was a weak spot, with steep declines and market‑share losses to Chinese competitors, raising concern the Q3 boost may be temporary. Analysts warned the front‑loading of U.S. demand could depress sales in coming quarters, tempering optimism about the record quarter. Tesla is continuing to pursue longer‑term bets such as robotaxis and humanoid robots while facing intensified competition in its core automotive business.