"Tesla's Stock Plunge: Analysts Concede 'Train Wreck' Earnings Call and Warn of 'Notably Lower' Growth"

Tesla's stock plunged over 12% after reporting Q4 earnings that missed estimates and issuing a downbeat full-year production outlook, with CEO Elon Musk confirming that the next-gen vehicle will arrive in the second half of 2025. The company's full-year production growth rate is expected to be notably lower than in 2023, impacting its ability to reach Street estimates for 2024. Factors contributing to the drop in profitability include downward pressure on margins, cost-cutting efforts, and various operational challenges. Despite setting a record for Q4 deliveries, Tesla's 38% delivery growth rate fell short of its 50% CAGR target due to factory shutdowns and improvements. Musk also expressed concerns about maintaining control of the company to realize its AI ambitions.