Tesla shares jumped more than 10 percent Thursday after the company reported earnings for the second quarter.
Investors seemed to cheer the fact that the electric automaker burned through less cashー$739.5 million in Q2 compared to $1 billion the quarter beforeーand that CEO Elon Musk behaved himself: the billionaire began the earnings call by apologizing to analysts for his ["bad manners"](https://cheddar.com/videos/elon-musk-combative-with-analysts-may-have-a-point?utm_source=All+Subs&utm_campaign=5c55c38d33-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_01_06_20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4b7ac66387-5c55c38d33-121269037) three months ago, which accelerated after-market gains in the stock.
Other positives from Tesla's earnings: the company said it expects to manufacture more than 6,000 of Model 3s a week by the end of the month and that most factories would be able to produce 10,000 cars a week by the end of the year.
That would be a big step toward achieving profitabilityーMusk has said that sustained production of the Model 3 is essential for increasing cash flow and cutting losses. The company ended the quarter with about $2.2 billion in cash on its balance sheet, suggesting it has just enough to get through the year.
Still, Tesla did post a bigger loss than expectedー$3.06 a share versus an estimated $2.92ーand Musk acknowledged the company would need to raise capital to fund its planned expansion to Shanghai.
In all, the company produced more than 53,000 carsーModel 3s, Model Ss, and Model Xsーduring the second quarter, and delivered almost 41,000 vehicles. It also took a restructuring charge for cutting its workforce by 9 percent.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/tesla-stocks-rise-after-earnings-report).
Supply chain issues have become one of the biggest roadblocks for the U.S. EV market, with production woes likely to stunt the industry's growth in 2022. Rich Steinberg, electric vehicle expert and industry advisor, told Cheddar that the Biden administration investing in domestic mining for essential minerals used in battery manufacturing — such as lithium — could help alleviate the bottlenecks. "Some of those same materials are available domestically, they just haven't been prioritized," he said, noting the paradox between green tech and "dirty" mining. "The good news is that there are ways to extract those materials cleanly."
California-based startup Indi EV is gearing up to release its first crossover vehicle incorporating a supercomputer that will allow, among other things, gaming. Andre Hudson, head of design at Indi EV, joined Cheddar to talk about the launch of the Indi One and how the company is distinguishing itself from leaders in the EV space like Tesla. He also talked about the tech behind the Indi One and noted that the car's computer system will enable people to run applications and even create their own. "As a company, we fundamentally saw a major disconnect between how people transition into their cars using the digital devices in their life," Hudson said
Cheddar is looking back at the 12 biggest buzzwords of the year leading up to Christmas. The term for Day 12 is Web3. Definition: (noun) Also known as Web 3.0, a version of the internet where data is decentralized and based on peer-to-peer technologies.
Hyperfine, the pioneer of the very first FDA-approved portable MRI device, made its public debut on the Nasdaq via a SPAC merger. CEO Dave Scott joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to discuss the IPO launch, the company's valuation at $580 million, and the impact of its machine called Swoop. "We can roll an MRI system, our MRI Swoop system, right into the room where you are, right up to your patient bedside, and scan you right there and get an image in less than an hour," he explained.
Social media platform TikTok was the most visited website in 2021, topping Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple, according to IT security company Cloudflare.
AdTheorent just the latest company to go public via a SPAC. The company specializes in digital advertising, using AI and machine learning as a tool to move marketing forward. AdTheorent to close its SPAC merger with MCAP Acquisition today and will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ADTH. CEO Jim Lawson spoke with Cheddar ahead of the move.
Although still early in development, blockchain technology, Web3, also known as Web 3.0 has been getting a lot of attention from some top tech names lately. Web3 is based on blockchain technology, which powers NFT’s and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. With Web3, users would ideally control their own data, rather than have it be controlled by a few large companies. But, Tesla CEO Elon musk isn't buying into Web3 just yet, tweeting over the weekend that the decentralized iteration of the internet seems more like a marketing "buzzword" right now than reality. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey also chiming in to the conversation, expressing doubt over whether or not Web3 would actually be decentralized if ownership still belonged to venture capital firms. Parker McCurley, co-founder & CEO of Decent Labs explains the significance of Web3 catching the eye of the tech giants, and what Web3 could mean for the future of the internet.
Carlo and Baker cover the heartening news on the Covid front ahead of the holiday, plus President Biden punting student loan repayments again, a new space telescope and Love, Hate, Ate: Christmas Eve Eve Edition!
