PREVIEW-Tesla Q1 deliveries likely to dip sequentially as EV demand softens

April 1 (Reuters) - Tesla’s (TSLA.O) first-quarter deliveries are expected to be lower than in the December quarter as the electric-vehicle maker struggles with uneven demand and intensifying competition in key markets.

The Elon Musk-led EV maker is expected to report deliveries before the markets open on Thursday.

• Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expect Tesla to deliver about 368,900 vehicles in the January–March period, representing a sequential decline of 11.8% but growth of 9.6% from a year earlier, when a major backlash against Musk’s far-right political rhetoric hurt sales
• The average of 23 estimates compiled by Tesla is 365,645 units
• Intensifying competition in Europe and China and the expiry of a $7,500 federal tax credit in the U.S. on EV purchases in September weigh on demand
• While Wall Street estimates still point to modest growth this year, sentiment has shifted notably in recent months, with some analysts expecting a decline
• Analysts expect deliveries of 1.7 million vehicles this year, and 1.84 million units in 2027, according to Visible Alpha data
• Tesla is increasingly shifting its focus beyond electric vehicles, placing bets on solar energy, humanoid robots, and autonomous robotaxis as the next pillars of its business.