Tesla almost reaches the goal of delivering 500,000 cars by 2020 despite the pandemic Technology

Tesla reported record deliveries of its electric cars in the last three months of 2020, reaching a limit of reaching the half-million target for the year set by its executive, Elon Musk.

Annual sales of the California-based manufacturer rose 36% after a last quarter that exceeded analysts ’expectations and delivered a total of 499,550 cars in 2020.

Tesla delivered 180,570 electric vehicles between October and December, down from the overall target Musk had set earlier this year, ahead of the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid-19 forced the closure of the U.S. Fremont assembly plant in the spring, but Musk urged employees to increase production to achieve the goal and last week offered incentives that included free “driving” options. automatic “worth $ 10,000 (£ 7,300) to Tesla cars whose paperwork and delivery were completed in late December.

Despite seemingly losing the target, Tesla said it had “produced and delivered half a million vehicles, according to our most recent guide,” and Musk hailed it as an “important milestone.”

He tweeted: “I am very proud of Tesla team to achieve this important milestone! At the beginning of Tesla, we thought (optimistically) we had a 10% chance of surviving. “

The manufacturer manufactured more than 509,000 cars by 2020. Production of its Model Y SUV has also begun at its Chinese plant in Shanghai, and deliveries are expected to begin soon, Tesla said.

Tesla’s share price, which multiplied by eight in 2020, ended the year at more than $ 705, valuing the company at $ 669 billion, 20% of which is owned by Musk himself, who he is the second richest man in the world. It surpassed Toyota earlier this year as the world’s most valuable vehicle manufacturer and last month joined the prestigious Wall Street S&P index, immediately becoming its sixth most valued listed company.