Tesla is in a completely different situation. Cars require massive upfront investment before their revenue is realized, and given the results just posted, Tesla will most likely post a quarter with declining revenue.
People should stop comparing things to Amazon. Amazon was successful because it was unique.
Amazon can be forgiven for losing $1.6 Billion in the 2001 recession, but their pathway to profitability was rather short all else considered.
Amazon has famously low margins, but those low margins commanded a mighty profit for decades. They are not the company you want to compare against Tesla. Tesla's strategy is supposed to be luxury vehicles at high margins and relatively (relative to Ford / Toyota / its other competitors) low production.
In contrast: Amazon is low margins while out-producing its competition. A very, very bad comparison.
2003: $35 Million profit
2004: $588 Million profit
2005: $359 Million
2006: $190 Million
2007: $476 Million
2008: $645 Million
2009: $902 Million
2010: $1,152 Million
2011: $631 Million
2012: $(39) Million <--- First loss
2013: $274 Million
2014: $(241) Million <--- 2nd loss
2015: $596 Million
2016: $2,371 Million
2017: $3,033 Million
2018: $10,073 Million
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Aside from 2012 and 2014, Amazon was both profitable AND cash flow positive. Amazon was Cash flow positive all 15 years in this time period as well. But I'm talking net profit / net loss here.
IMO: there's no valid comparison to Tesla here. Amazon is not the company you want to compare against Tesla's performance.
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Anyway, yes, Jeff Bezos sacrificing one year or two years of profits (over 15 years) for greater long-term growth could make sense. That doesn't actually mean its healthy for Tesla to consistently lose money for 10 years straight.
Tesla is likely coming to the end of the period where they have a relatively unique portfolio of products. We're starting to see the traditional car makers come up with competitive vehicles.
Whilst Tesla may ride this out fine, it's likely to have an impact on things like margins, going forward.
closest competitor for the Model X at the moment appears to be the Jaguar I-Pace.
For the model three there's things like the Hyundai Kona and Renault Zoe which are becoming competitive.
I don't think it's there yet, but if I was an investor looking at a 2-3 year timeline, you've got to expect increased competition as there's various models coming along from various companies. Not all of them will be successful, but it's a fair likeliness that some will be.
Amazon chooses to make little/no profit as a long-term business strategy to reinvest everything.
Tesla is forced to make little/no-profit as a short-term business obligation to their suppliers.
That's longer than average, but it's also a lot shorter than 16 years.
Edit: Wow, so much hate for a one-line comment. I have five replies and three downvotes as of now.
I stand by my comment. I think Tesla is building long-term value (brand recognition, a reputation for innovation in an stodgy industry, technical know-how in multiple industries) that will allow them to be profitable. I know well how Amazon got here, but I don't care about the technicalities. It is the behemoth that it is because of the compounded value added over 14+ years. I see Tesla equally driven and able to take advantage of the things it puts in place now.