Part 5/10:
The second major story originates from a BBC report claiming Tesla "pledges" to produce cheaper vehicles amidst mounting problems, particularly referencing declining sales. Herbert dismisses the tone as overly sensational, noting that Tesla has long been working on developing more affordable models. The company's shift toward cheaper vehicles has been a consistent goal, not a reaction to current setbacks.
He points out that Tesla’s sales fell to about 1.8 million vehicles globally in the last report, slightly lower than expected, primarily due to the Model Y’s transition to a new version. Factory shutdowns and inventory issues in Europe caused temporary setbacks, but Herbert believes these are manageable and localized rather than indicative of a collapsing brand.