Tesla reported first quarter 2018 solar installations of 76MW, down from 87MW in the fourth quarter of 2017 and down from 150MW in the first quarter of 2017. Tesla reported first-quarter 2018 solar installations of 76MW, down from 87MW in the fourth quarter of 2017 and down from 150MW in the first quarter of 2017. Tesla has overseen a decline in its PV installations for three quarters in a row. Under SolarCity, installs were 214MW in the first quarter of 2016, thus generating a two-year overall decline in installations. Tesla reiterated since acquiring SolarCity that its restructuring of the once leading residential PV installer would have a negative effect on installation figures as it changes the sales business model and shifted to selling inside Tesla’s automotive retail outlets as well as online mechanisms. The company noted that in the first quarter of 2018, cash and loan system sales made up 66% of residential deployments, up from 31% in Q1 2017 and 9% in Q1 2016, had led to a small positive cash flow throughout 2017. However, Tesla noted that it did not expect any real improvement in cash flow from PV installations in the first half of 2018. The company claimed that its booked customer base was waiting for its energy storage systems to become readily available before accepting installation of rooftop PV systems. Tesla has also highlighted a new strategy of prioritizing installations with its energy storage product offering is available in quantity to meet demand, that is combined with its traditional PV system product offering. Without being specific, Tesla said the new sales strategy “should have a positive impact on our solar deployments in upcoming quarters”. Production of its complete solar roof tiling product, a manufacturing JV with Panasonic, was expected to accelerate “significantly in the second half of this year,” potentially around a year after Panasonic started making something at Tesla’s Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York state. Tesla reported energy generation and storage revenue segment sales of US$410 million in the first quarter of 2018, up from US$317.5 million in the previous quarter. Gross margin for the segment also increased to 8.5%, compared to 5.5% in the previous quarter. However, gross margins remain significantly below the prior year period of 29.1% on sales of US$213 million, indicating over a 2,000% decline. Tags: tesla, pv modules, rooftop, residential, usa, panasonic
Tesla reported a third quarterly decline in solar installations at 76 MW in Q1 , down from 87 MW in Q4 2017 , 109 MW in 2017 and 176 MW in Q2 . The last was up from 150 MW in Q1 2017 . Tesla said it had previously predicted that its November 2016 acquisition of SolarCity would initially have a negative impact on installations . SolarCity installed 214 MW in Q1 2016 . Tesla also reported sales of $ 410 million from its energy generation and solar business , but the 8.5 % gross margin was well below the Q1 2017 figure of 29.1 % .