Tesla makes record deliveries in 2020, just 450 units shy of Elon Musk's target

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that his electric vehicle-making company fell just shy of delivering its global target of half a million vehicles after company’s only plant in United States was shut amid COVID-19 pandemic. As carmaker anunced that it delivered 499,550 vehicles during 2020, more than Wall Street estimates of 481,261 vehicles as per data by Refinitiv, Musk hailed it as a “major milestone”. However, annual numbers were reportedly 450 units less than Musk’s ambitious target for year 2020.

Roughly in 2019, Tesla delivered 367,500 in year. In 2020, Silicon valley carmaker’s entry-level Model 3 and its crossover Model Y made up for nearly 86 per of all its delivered. As per reports, re was a balanced split between luxury Model S sedan and Model X SUV. Previously, Tesla made record of delivering 139,300 vehicles in just third quarter of 2020. Even amid pandemic, Tesla stock soared more than 700% in 2020. But, company will reportedly be facing a difficult task of introducing more vehicle models along with inaugurating factories in Germany and Texas.

In a statement, Tesla said, "Thank you to all of our customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and supporters who helped us achieve ar great year."

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Tesla in India by 2021

While Tesla roadster is achieving milestones in , X CEO hinted at company’s India debut in reply to a post with a photograph of a T-shirt with mess ‘India wants Tesla’. Saying it would be in 2021 “for sure," Elon Musk’s tweet had broken internet at time with people saying y “can’t keep calm”. Musk even said “thanks for waiting”. Tesla CEO’s anuncement came especially when India's auto sector that was already reeling from a slowdown in demand last year, has been furr hit by COVID-19 pandemic and carmakers are seeking government support to push sales.

Recently, even Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari confirmed that Elon Musk's Tesla Motors will enter India in 2021. Gadkari said that American electric car major is set to start its operations in India next year, adding that company would also look at setting up a manufacturing unit based on demand.

"American auto major Tesla will have its distribution facility (sale centres) for its cars in India from next year and considering demand it would look into setting up of manufacturing here. India has potential to become largest EV (electric vehicle) producer in world in next five years," Gadkari told PTI.

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