Elon Emails

Stock could be 'crushed like a soufflé under a sledgehammer'

From:
Elon Musk
Date:
December 1, 2020
To:
All Tesla employees
At a time like this, when our stock is reaching new highs, it may seem as though spending carefully is not as important. This is definitely not true. When looking at our actual profitability, it is very low at around 1% for the past year. Investors are giving us a lot of credit for future profits, but if, at any point, they conclude that's not going to happen, our stock will immediately get crushed like a soufflé under a sledgehammer! Much more important, in order to make our cars affordable, we have to get smarter about how we spend money. This a tough Game of Pennies – requiring thousands of good ideas to improve part cost, a factory process or simply the design, while increasing quality and capabilities. A great idea would be on that saves $5, but the vast majority are 50 cents here or 20 cents there. In order to make the electric revolution happen we much make electric cars, stationary batteries and solar affordable to all. Thanks and great working with you as always, Elon

About this email

With Tesla's stock at record highs, Musk warns employees that profitability is only about 1% and that investors will crush the stock if they lose faith in future profits, urging a 'Game of Pennies' on costs.

Notes

Also reported by CNBC and Reuters. Typos ('This a tough', 'would be on that saves', 'we much make') are as published by Electrek.

Where it came from

Leaked to press; attribution widely reported.

Tesla, company-wide memo. Tags: cost-cutting, stock-price, profitability, affordability