Record deliveries of Tesla cars during a "very difficult" quarter

The results, published on Saturday, slightly exceeded expectations. Analysts expected 309,158 vehicles to be shipped, based on average estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Fluctuations in COVID-19 infection rates continue to affect supply chains around the world, as the automaker temporarily halted production at its Shanghai plant starting last month, after the city imposed a lockdown due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak.

“This has been an exceptionally difficult quarter due to supply chain disruptions and the China Zero Covid policy,” Tesla CEO Musk said in a tweet. “The outstanding work of the Tesla team and key suppliers saved the situation.”

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Wedbush analysts led by Dan Ives wrote in a note that Tesla's shipments were "better than we feared" given supply chain issues. "We believe that deliveries of around 20,000 to 25,000 units have been delayed from the first quarter to the second quarter due to logistical and plant issues which make this core demand figure look solid with a strong trajectory for the rest of 2022," he added.

Quarterly deliveries are among the most closely watched indicators for Tesla, as they underpin the automaker's financial results. This number is widely seen as a measure of demand for electric vehicles in general, with the Austin, Texas-based company leading the path for battery-powered vehicles.

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Tesla said its number of deliveries was conservative, and that final numbers could vary by 0.5% or more. The company produced 305,407 vehicles during the quarter.

The automaker doesn't separate sales by geography, but the US and China are its biggest markets and the bulk of sales were from Model 3 sedans and "Y" crossovers.

Tesla makes the Model 3 and Y, as well as the older Model S sedan and crossover in Fremont, California. The Shanghai factory produces the Model 3 and "Y". Tesla has recently begun delivering Model Y vehicles from a new factory in Berlin, and will celebrate the opening of a plant in Austin at its 15,000-person Cyber ​​Rodeo on April 7.