Missed

Tesla GAAP-profitable in Q4 2016 (missed)

Elon Musk promised Tesla GAAP-profitable in Q4 2016 by the end of 2016. The deadline passed and it didn't happen.

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“we anticipate uh being profitable by Gap stands in uh Q4 of this year”
— Elon Musk · Feb 10, 2016 · Tesla Q4 2015 earnings call (YouTube upload YRzQJLeMqIU), video, ~00:04:14 00:04:14 ↗
Video: Tesla Q4 2015 earnings call (YouTube upload YRzQJLeMqIU), video, ~00:04:14
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT @ 00:04:14 — TESLA Q4 2015 EARNINGS CALL (YOUTUBE UPLOAD YRZQJLEMQIU), VIDEO, ~00:04:14
What actually happened

Tesla reported a Q4 2016 GAAP net loss of about $121M (Feb 22, 2017). Q3 2016 had been GAAP-profitable, but Q4 was not. Tesla Q4 2016 update (GAAP net loss) ↗

The Progression

Feb 10, 2016
The promise: “we anticipate uh being profitable by Gap stands in uh Q4 of this year” · Tesla Q4 2015 earnings call (YouTube upload YRzQJLeMqIU), video, ~00:04:14 00:04:14 ↗
Dec 31, 2016
Deadline passed. Tesla reported a Q4 2016 GAAP net loss of about $121M (Feb 22, 2017). Q3 2016 had been GAAP-profitable, but Q4 was not. Tesla Q4 2016 update (GAAP net loss) ↗
Today · Oct 12, 2026
Status: Missed · 3,572 days past due. Never happened.

On Tesla's Q4 2015 earnings call Elon Musk said he expected Tesla to be profitable under GAAP in Q4 2016. Tesla posted a GAAP loss for that quarter.

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LAST CHECKED 2026-10-12

Tesla’s record

Delivered
84
47% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
94
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
45
On the clock now. All 223 Tesla claims →

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