Max Whittaker/Getty Images Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
- This year presented an opportunity for Tesla to build on last year's positive developments and move away from the chaos that characterized 2018.
- But so far, little has changed in 2019.
- Even celebratory announcements, like the introduction of the $35,000 version of the Model 3 sedan and the unveiling of the Model Y SUV, have been accompanied by concerns about their implications.
If the first three months of 2019 are any indication, Tesla is set for another eventful, turbulent year.
In 2018, the electric-car maker achieved major successes - impressive Model 3 sales, its first consecutive profitable quarters - that were tempered by a number of challenges and controversies, including a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit against CEO Elon Musk, overwhelmed service centers, and concerns about workplace safety.
This year presented an opportunity for Tesla to build on last year's positive developments and move away from the chaos that characterized 2018. But so far, little has changed in 2019. Even celebratory announcements, like the introduction of the $35,000 version of the Model 3 sedan and the unveiling of the Model Y SUV, have been accompanied by concerns about their implications.
Add to that multiple rounds of layoffs, more trouble with the SEC, and a lost Consumer Reports recommendation, and Tesla has its plate full as it heads into the second quarter.
These are the biggest challenges Tesla has faced so far in 2019.
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