Tesla Motors said it delivered 5,150 Model S electric sedans from April through June, surpassing the company’s expectation of slightly over 4,500 deliveries.
That number makes the Tesla Model S the fourth most popular plug-in electric vehicle in the U.S., despite the fact that the cheapest Model S costs at least twice as much as the sales leaders.
So far more than 13,000 Model S sedans have been sold in North America, while international sales in Norway, Switzerland and The Netherlands started this week as well.
Tesla continued to benefit from the sale of zero-emissions credits to other automakers. It sold $51 million worth of ZEV credits in the second quarter, as well as $18 million in “other regulatory credits.” In the first quarter, Tesla traded $67.9 million in ZEV credits, as well as $17.1 million in other regulatory credits.
The company’s production rate jumped by 25% to almost 500 vehicles per week from 400.
Looking ahead, Tesla said it was on track to deliver 21,000 vehicles worldwide in 2013, and expects to deliver slightly over 5,000 Model S vehicles in the current quarter. The company declared that it expects to ship 40,000 Model S units per year by late 2014.
Overall, Tesla reported a loss of $30.5 million, or 26 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $105.6 million, or $1 a share. Excluding stock-based compensation and other impacts, Tesla reported an adjusted profit of 22 cents compared to a prior-year loss of 89 cents.
Shares jumped 11% to $148.70 in after-hours trading, as results easily exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. As of Wednesday’s close, the stock had nearly quadrupled in 2013, with much of that gain coming after Tesla in May reported the company’s first-ever quarterly profit.
Tesla is aiming to become the first successful automotive startup in the U.S. since the 1920s, and while investors have rewarded the company with a lofty valuation amid hopes Tesla can sell many more of its electric cars, the company is still tiny compared to the Detroit Three and many foreign auto makers.
