Yesterday Tesla released its Q1 earnings and it wasn’t pretty, with revenue down 9% year-over-year and net income plunging 71%, to go with lower deliveries.
Tesla’s Q1 2025 earnings call was less about financial details and more of a sweeping look at Elon Musk’s broader vision. From his role in U.S. government reform to Tesla’s progress in autonomy and robotics, here are the 10 biggest takeaways:
1. Elon Says He’s Scaling Back Government Work
Musk acknowledged criticism over time spent on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative. He says his work there is “mostly done” and he’ll reduce his involvement to a couple of days per week starting in May.
2. Tesla Is Not in Crisis
Despite industry headwinds, Musk was clear: “We’re not on the ragged edge of death, not even close.” He admitted to past near-death moments at Tesla but said this isn’t one of them.
3. Autonomy Starts in Austin this June
Tesla plans to roll out fully autonomous rides in Austin this summer. The Model Y will be the first to launch with “unsupervised autonomy,” kicking off its robotaxi ambitions.
4. Cybercab and Robotaxi Clarification
Musk clarified that “Cybercab” refers to Tesla’s dedicated autonomous vehicle product, while “robotaxi” refers to any Tesla model (like the S, 3, X, or Y) operating without a driver.
5. Global Expansion of Autonomy Hinges on Regulation
Once autonomy is proven in one U.S. city, Tesla believes it can scale across the country—and other countries—based on regulatory approval, thanks to its generalized AI solution.
6. Optimus Robot Ramp-Up Coming
Thousands of Optimus humanoid robots are expected to be working in Tesla factories by the end of 2025. Musk predicts 1 million units per year by 2030, possibly earlier.
7. Energy Business Scaling Fast
Tesla’s Megapack is gaining traction among utilities. Musk said gigawatt-scale batteries are now common, and the company expects to scale to terawatt levels annually.
8. Tariffs Are Out of Tesla’s Hands
While Musk favors lower tariffs, he said tariff decisions rest solely with the U.S. President. He noted Tesla’s localized supply chains in North America, Europe, and China help mitigate risks.
9. Model Y Transition Was a Major Lift
Tesla used Q1—traditionally a weaker quarter—to roll out production changes to the Model Y. Musk called it the best-selling car of any kind globally and praised the team for the successful switchover.
10. Vision for “Sustainable Abundance for All”
Musk ended with a sweeping statement of Tesla’s mission: using AI-powered electric vehicles and robots to deliver a future of “sustainable abundance” that’s good for both people and the planet.
Musk repeated his belief that if executed well, Tesla will become “the most valuable company in the world—by far.” News of Musk going back to Tesla and spending more time there has the stock up 8% today, trading at $257.
