Teslas production and delivery numbers for 2024 are out, and the numbers are pretty sobering. The premiere EV company in the US produced 1.77 million cars this year, a drop of about 4 percent compared to the previous year, and delivered 1.79 million vehicles this year, or about 1 percent less than 2023. Tesla also deployed 31.4 GWh in energy storage.That said, the company said it had a record fourth quarter for deliveries, with 495,570 vehicles making their way to customers. Tesla also said it deployed 11 GWh of energy storage products, which it also said was a record. And it produced 459,445 vehicles, most of which were Model 3s and Ys. But the late year rally wasnt enough to bring the companys full-year numbers in line with 2023. And indeed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had warned at the beginning of the year that increased competition and reduced demand for the companys aging lineup of vehicles was going to be an overall drag on its performance in 2024. Not even the relative popularity of the Cybertruck, which began deliveries late last year, was enough to lift Teslas fortunes for the year. And despite setting records for deliveries and energy deployment for Q4, the company still came in below Wall Streets expectations of 504,800 vehicles delivered, according to Wedbushs Dan Ives. Teslas stock price was down about 5 percent on the gloomy news.Its unclear how Tesla will navigate the new environment after Donald Trump resumes the presidency. Much has been said about Musk and Trumps burgeoning alliance, but the incoming president is likely to eliminate a lot of the incentives that helped make Tesla vehicles more affordable to consumers, including a $7,500 tax credit on new EVs. Musk has said that a more affordable Tesla is on deck for 2025, and a fully autonomous Cybercab for 2026 though both projects face a lot of hurdles. And of course, China looms over everything, as the countrys surging domestic EV production continues to put pressure on US manufacturers who do business there. China is Teslas largest and most important market, and the company is continuing to lose market share to BYD and other major players.