Tesla encountered the "Blue Screen Door" of CrowdStrike: share price fell more than RMB230 billion, and the chain reaction was triggered by the suspension of production lines.
1min read Recently, the global technology and automotive industries have been hit by an unexpected shock. According to multiple reports, a software update error of CrowdStrike, a security company, has caused a large-scale "blue screen" phenomenon worldwide, leading to the paralysis of many enterprises and infrastructure. This incident not only disrupted aviation, rail and financial services, but also unexpectedly impacted Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, forcing it to suspend production.
According to the news, Tesla's super factories in Texas and Nevada have been affected by the "blue screen", resulting in equipment failure and temporary suspension, disrupting the original production rhythm. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, expressed strong dissatisfaction on social media, announcing the full elimination of CrowdStrike software and releasing a picture of "AI-generated CrowdStrike data center burning", to protest. Musk called this incident "an unprecedented IT disaster" and emphasized its far-reaching impact on the automotive supply chain.
The incident quickly reflected in Tesla's stock. According to statistics, Tesla's total market value fell by $31.989 billion from July 18 to 19, equivalent to RMB 232.54 billion. As of the close of trading on July 19, Tesla's market value fell to $762.856 billion, reflecting investors' concerns about Tesla's current situation and the vulnerability of the global technology ecosystem's interdependence.
Tesla's challenges are far from this. According to its quarterly report for the first quarter of 2024, Tesla's revenue was $21.301 billion, down 8.69% year-on-year, setting a record for the first time since 2020 to decline year-on-year, and the largest decline since 2012. Net income dropped 55.07%, and gross margin fell to 17.4%, a 1.9 percentage point decrease from the previous quarter. To cope with financial pressure, Tesla announced in April this year that it would lay off about 14,000 employees, aiming to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
However, the layoff and cost control measures have not yet shown significant results. In the first half of 2024, Tesla's global delivery volume was 837,700 vehicles, a 6.6% year-on-year decrease. In particular, in the second quarter, the delivery of passenger cars was 444,000, a 4.8% year-on-year decrease, marking the second consecutive quarter of sales decline.
In the face of multiple challenges, Tesla needs to take decisive action. First, strengthen cooperation with supply chain partners to ensure smooth production processes and stable supply chains; second, optimize internal management, improve production efficiency and market competitiveness to adapt to the rapidly changing market environment. At the same time, Tesla should continue to focus on user needs and feedback, refine product quality and service levels, and consolidate consumer trust to pave the way for brand revitalization.