Tesla Faces FBI Probe Over Model 3 Production Numbers (cnbc.com)

A new report from The Wall Street Journal says the FBI is reviewing Tesla's Model 3 production numbers as part of an ongoing criminal probe into whether the company misled investors. "Federal agents are reviewing Tesla's stated Model 3 numbers dating back to early 2017, the Journal reports, citing unnamed sources," CNBC reports. From the report: Tesla had previously said it provided documents to the Department of Justice regarding CEO Elon Musk's controversial take-private tweet -- a blunder that ultimately cost Tesla and Musk a combined $40 million in fraud settlement fees. Now Tesla says it also provided information to the Department of Justice regarding Musk's public statements regarding production numbers of its Model 3 sedan. Tesla says the company has not received "a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process," but the Journal reported Friday that former Tesla employees have received subpoenas and requests for testimony.

Comments

Early 2017 Model 3 Numbers, 0

[blazerw]

Sounds like "fake news" from shorts if they're asking about Model 3 production numbers before Model 3 production started. According to Wikipedia, first Model 3 came off line in July 2017. While that is 2017 and it isn't late 2017, it's definitely not early 2017.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Re:Big oil strikes again

[110010001000]

You mean like the Saudis, who own 5% of Tesla?

Re:This is getting ridiculous. Fucking Wall Street

[BlueStrat]

They'd do ANYTHING to get rid of Musk. Even resorting to getting the FBI in there to "find" something... "anything, dear god, please, anything!".
Next up: "Musk found dead from 39 bullet shot wounds and his head being chopped of by an axe. Death ruled an 'accident'."

"Yep, worst case of suicide we ever saw! Poor soul, he was just too high-strung." -- Combined Aerospace, Automobile, and Energy Industry Interests.

Musk is an existential threat to the established industries in those sectors as well as to those in government who get all those fat corporate contributions from them.

Tesla Model 3/Falcon9FalconHeavy/PowerWall == Tucker Tornado x 3.

Go read about what the government, in collusion with established manufacturers, did to Tucker and Tucker Motors while keeping in mind he only threatened *one* major industrial sector's established players and that the government is at least as corrupt today as then, if not more so.

Strat

Conveniently released

[EnsilZah]

The story is old news and Tesla made a statement they haven't received any subpoenas from the DOJ.

The story was conveniently (for some) released as the stock was hitting +8% in a bear market, and it promptly dropped to around 0% for the day.
After about 20 minutes the market realized the story was bullshit and the stock continued to rise 5% by closing time, but the doubt has been sowed and momentum slowed.

Re:Wonder what they are investigating

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

You can infer production rate. That is speculation on your part. Why would they investigate Tesla for your speculation?

It is illegal if they made X cars but reported X+Y cars.

It would be illegal to give an inflated forecast about production rate knowingly. It would be very hard to prove Tesla knew it is going to miss production deadlines and still misrepresented the issue. With all that talk about production hell, and sleeping in the factory etc, they made no effort to conceal the problems they had in production.