There was a lot of uncertainty about how many vehicles Tesla (TSLA +0.69%) would deliver in Q2. Analyst estimates varied widely. Nevertheless, the consensus forecast from analysts was certainly bullish. On average, they were expecting the electric-car maker to deliver just over 200,000 vehicles during the quarter, translating to trip-digit year over year growth.
The automaker didn't let down. Second-quarter vehicles deliveries soared, giving Tesla bulls another reason to justify the growth stock's pricey valuation.
Here's a closer look at the electric-car company's second-quarter deliveries -- and what it means for the future.
Model Y. Image source: Tesla.
Over 200,000 deliveries
In a press release Friday morning, Tesla said it delivered 201,250 deliveries during the quarter. These deliveries were up 121% year over year -- the company's highest growth rate in two years. In addition, the growth rate was notably an acceleration from the 109% year-over-year growth Tesla reported in Q1.
Of the 201,250 vehicles Tesla delivered, an incredible 199,360 were either a Model 3 or Model Y -- the company's two more affordable vehicles. Model S and X only accounted for 1,890 deliveries.
Uncertainty about how many vehicle deliveries Tesla would report was primarily based on the unusual supply and logistical challenges many companies with global supply chains have been experiencing as economies reopen. But Tesla seems to have navigated these challenges well.
Keep in mind that Tesla says in its press release about these deliveries that they "should be viewed as slightly conservative, as we only count a car as delivered if it is transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct." Actual deliveries, once they've been properly tallied, "could vary by up to 0.5% or more."
Tesla's aggressive full-year guidance is within reach
When Tesla reported its fourth-quarter 2020 deliveries, management set a big target for 2021 deliveries. The company said it expected vehicle deliveries to grow more than 50% year over year -- and that was on top of 36% growth last year.
Delivering about half of a million vehicles last year, Tesla will need to deliver more than 750,000 total vehicles this year to hit its guidance. With over 386,000 vehicles delivered already, Tesla just needs a steady-state in the second half of the year. If its vehicle deliveries during the second half of 2021 were only on par with those during the first half, this would translate to 772,000 deliveries.
In other words, barring any unforeseen challenges, Tesla's full-year guidance is in the bag.
