Tesla’s Musk Sidesteps 2012 Model S Goal, Sees 20,000 in 2013 - Businessweek 20% is a new low for the margin and completely bailed on the 5k for 2012.
What was the previous margin goal? I thought it was 30%? I know in an earlier conference call Elon had called 5k a "soft" target for the first time that I'd heard and said what he wanted to be held to was 20k in 2013 and the 30% margin, that those were hard targets. Maybe it was 25%, but I know it was more than 20%. If I'm giving benefit of the doubt, I suppose it could be a typo in the article or maybe 20% is the 2012 margin.
I remember Musk saying he was hoping to have 25% margins. How does 20% compare to other auto manufacturers? Gross Profit Margin Rankings Based on this, 20% is still pretty decent.
Video of interview with Bloomberg: Tesla's Model S Goal Is 20,000 in 2013, Musk Says: Video - Bloomberg
After comparing Bloomberg's statements, headlines and video it looks like they are running Elons words through the spin cycle.
They spiced it up to make it more controversial. She asked him three times if Tesla was going to ship 5000 this year and all three times he said "I'm not legally allowed to say." They spun it to sound like he was lacking in confidence. Knowing Elon there are just too many variables and something can still come up that slows production slightly. She was also trying to start something between Virgin Galactic and SpaceX.