Tesla reports record deliveries as chip crunch tests industry

NEW YORK: Tesla scored record car deliveries in the second quarter, while Ford reported higher US auto sales despite a drag from the worldwide semiconductor shortage in June, the companies said Friday.

Tesla delivered 201,250 autos during the period, overtaking the previous record set in January and prompting a cheer from Tesla chief Elon Musk, who has lamented the chip shortage and other supply chain problems in recent months as the company has moved to ramp up production.

"Congrats Tesla Team on over 200,000 car built & delivered in Q2, despite many challenges!!" Musk said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Ford became the latest automaker to report higher US sales in the latest quarter, releasing June figures that brought the quarterly total to 475,327, up about 10 percent from the same quarter of the prior year.

However, Ford's June sales plunged 27 percent from the year-ago period and also marked a steep decline from May and April.

The June data included a big decline in sales of Ford's market-leading F-150 pickup truck line as the chip crunch constrains production and limits the cars available for sale. On the positive side, tight inventories have boosted pricing, with Ford's average transaction price up $6,400 from a year ago at $47,800.

Ford also said it had seen reservations of more than 100,000 for its all-electric F-150 Lightning version of the truck since unveiling the model in May. Shares of Tesla rose 0.3 percent to $679.74 in late-morning trading, while Ford rose 0.5 percent to $14.99.