Summary
Tesla's 2017 10-K filing reveals significant year-over-year revenue growth, driven primarily by a substantial increase in automotive sales and the full-year inclusion of SolarCity's results. The company delivered over 100,000 Model S and Model X vehicles, alongside the initial production and delivery of 1,764 Model 3 vehicles, underscoring the ongoing challenge and investment in ramping up production for the mass market. The energy generation and storage segment experienced explosive growth, largely due to the SolarCity acquisition, demonstrating Tesla's expanding footprint in sustainable energy solutions beyond electric vehicles. Despite impressive revenue figures, the company continued to report a net loss, reflecting substantial investments in R&D and SG&A to support production expansion, new product development (like the Semi and Roadster), and global infrastructure build-out. Key risks highlighted include production bottlenecks for Model 3 and dependence on key suppliers.
Financial Highlights
54 data points| Revenue | $11.76B |
| Cost of Revenue | $9.54B |
| Gross Profit | $2.22B |
| R&D Expenses | $1.38B |
| SG&A Expenses | $2.48B |
| Operating Expenses | $3.85B |
| Operating Income | -$1.63B |
| Interest Expense | $471.00M |
| Net Income | -$1.96B |
| EPS (Basic) | $-0.79 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $-0.79 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 2.49B |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 2.49B |
Key Highlights
- 1Total revenues grew by 68% to $11.76 billion, compared to $7.00 billion in 2016, largely driven by a 53% increase in automotive sales and a 515% increase in energy generation and storage revenue (due to the SolarCity acquisition).
- 2The company delivered 101,420 Model S and Model X vehicles and initiated Model 3 deliveries, totaling 1,764 units in 2017.
- 3Research and development expenses increased by 65% to $1.38 billion, reflecting continued investment in new vehicle platforms and technologies.
- 4Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses rose by 73% to $2.48 billion, indicating significant investment in sales infrastructure, marketing, and operational expansion.
- 5Despite revenue growth, Tesla reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $1.96 billion for 2017, compared to a net loss of $675 million in 2016.
- 6Capital expenditures in 2017 totaled $4.08 billion, primarily for Model 3 production capacity, Gigafactory 1 expansion, and infrastructure build-out.
- 7The company faced significant production challenges and bottlenecks, particularly with the Model 3 ramp, impacting delivery targets and contributing to a lower automotive gross margin (23% in 2017 vs. 25% in 2016).