Skip to content
AnalystLens

Tesla, Inc. Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2020

Filing Date
Filed February 8, 2021
Period End
December 31, 2020
Security
TSLA
One revenue dollarkept$0.02
In the record · 2016–202610-K1610-Q328-K185

TSLA filed 16 annual reports (10-K), 32 quarterly reports (10-Q) and 185 current reports (8-K) between 2016 and 2026.

  1. Material agreement8-K · Oct ’17Oct ’17
  2. Leadership change8-K · Apr ’20Apr ’20
  3. Leadership change8-K · Sep ’22Sep ’22
  4. Material agreement8-K · Sep ’26Sep ’26

Summary

Summary of the 10-K filed February 8, 2021. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

Tesla, Inc. filed its 2020 Form 10-K on February 7, 2021, reporting a significant turnaround with a net income of $721 milliona, a substantial increase from the $862 million net loss in 2019.

Total revenues grew to $31.54 billionb, driven primarily by a 31% increase in automotive sales, largely due to higher delivery volumes of Model 3 and Model Y. The company also saw improved gross margins, reaching 21% overall, with automotive gross margins improving to 26%. The report highlights Tesla's ongoing expansion, with construction progressing on Gigafactories in Berlin and Texas, aimed at increasing global production capacity.

The company continued to invest heavily in research and development, particularly in battery cell technology and Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities. Despite the positive financial performance and operational growth, Tesla acknowledged ongoing risks, including supply chain challenges (especially microchip shortages), potential production ramp delays, and the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global operations and demand.

Key Highlights

  1. Tesla reported a net income of $721 million for 2020, a significant improvement from a net loss of $862 million in 2019.
  2. Total revenues increased to $31.54 billion, up 28% year-over-year, driven by strong performance in the automotive segment.
  3. Automotive sales revenue grew by 31% to $26.18 billion, supported by a 31% increase in automotive gross margin to 26%.
  4. The company produced and delivered 509,737 and 499,647 vehicles, respectively, demonstrating increased manufacturing output.
  5. Significant investments were made in expanding production capacity, with ongoing construction of Gigafactories in Berlin and Texas.
  6. Cash and cash equivalents increased substantially to $19.38 billion by year-end 2020, reflecting strong operational cash flow and equity raises.
  7. The company highlighted continued investment in R&D, focusing on battery cell technology and Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities.

Follow one dollar

Of each $1.00 of revenue in FY2020, Tesla, Inc. kept $0.02.

  1. Revenue$31.54B100.0%
  2. Cost of revenue−$24.91B79.0%
  3. Gross profit$6.63B21.0%
  4. Operating costs−$4.64B14.7%
  5. Operating income$1.99B6.3%
  6. Interest, other & tax−$1.30B4.1%
  7. Net income$690.0M2.2%
Computed from 10-KFY2020filed February 8, 2021Computed from this filing’s revenue, gross profit, operating income and net income · right columngrey figure: share of revenue

Where FY2020 revenue went

$31.54B
  • Cost of revenue: $24.91B, 79% of revenue
  • Net income: $690.0M, 2.2% of revenue
  • R&D: $1.49B, 4.7% of revenue
  • SG&A: $3.15B, 10.0% of revenue
  • Interest, other & tax: $1.30B, 4.1% of revenue

Kept 2.2% as net incomeNet income $690.0M · 2.2%

Full revenue history →

Financial Statements

FY2020 against FY2019

Line itemFY2020FY2019Change
Revenue$31.54B$24.58B+28.3%
Cost of Revenue$24.91B$20.51B+21.4%
Gross Profit$6.63B$4.07B+62.9%
R&D Expenses$1.49B$1.34B+11.0%
SG&A Expenses$3.15B$2.65B+18.9%
Operating Expenses$4.64B$4.14B+12.0%
Operating Income$1.99B-$69.00M+2989.9%
Interest Expense$748.00M$685.00M+9.2%
Net Income$690.00M-$862.00M+180.0%
EPS (Basic)$0.25$-0.33+176.5%
EPS (Diluted)$0.21$-0.33+164.3%
Shares Outstanding (Basic)2.80B2.66B+5.1%
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)3.25B2.66B+22.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What was Tesla's financial performance in 2020 compared to 2019?

    Tesla achieved profitability in 2020, reporting a net income of $721 million, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $862 million in 2019. Total revenues increased by 28% to $31.54 billion, driven by a 31% rise in automotive sales.

  2. What were the key drivers for Tesla's revenue growth in 2020?

    The primary driver for revenue growth was the automotive segment, with a 31% increase in automotive sales revenue, largely attributable to higher delivery volumes of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The company also saw a notable increase in revenue from regulatory credits.

  3. How is Tesla addressing production capacity and future growth?

    Tesla is expanding its production capacity through the construction of new Gigafactories in Berlin, Germany, and Austin, Texas. The company is also focused on ramping production of its existing models and continuing to invest in battery cell technology and Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities to drive future growth.

  4. What are the main risks and challenges mentioned in the report for the upcoming period?

    Key risks and challenges identified include potential production ramp delays, supply chain disruptions (specifically microchip shortages), the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global operations and demand, and the need to manage significant capital expenditures for ongoing expansion efforts.