Dissertation topic: To reduce the price of Tesla’s cars by 30 % without compromising the high quality of the product by the end of 2027.
Project Context (Dissertation)
This dissertation, submitted as a Business Insight Project Report (Dissertation), provides an in-depth strategic analysis of Tesla’s recent market challenges, specifically addressing the decline in sales due to intense competition and shifting consumer demand. The core objective was to develop a viable strategy for Tesla to reduce its car prices by 30% without compromising product quality by the end of 2027.
Key Sessions and Analysis
The project was structured into several critical academic sessions, demonstrating a rigorous problem-solving approach:
The project began.
Session 1 by defining the Problem, identifying the core challenge as high production costs (due to nickel/cobalt batteries, the global supply chain, and US labor), which was causing Tesla to lose market share to cheaper competitors like BYD.
Session 2 then disaggregated the Problem and Hypothesized Solutions, breaking down the issue into production, market, and product components. Initial solutions included transitioning to LFP batteries, localizing manufacturing, and designing a new affordable EV model.
In Session 3, I prioritised the Solutions, identifying the launch of a new, affordable EV model leveraging the groundbreaking Unboxed Manufacturing process as the highest-impact strategy to reach the 30% cost reduction goal.
Session 4: The Work Plan. This session outlined the methodology and timeline required to execute the research and analysis. This is where the practical steps for investigating the prioritized solutions were detailed, ensuring the project remained structured and deliverable.
Session 5 provided the detailed Analysis and Findings, which supported key recommendations: shifting more production to LFP batteries for material savings, developing PHEV models to capture hesitant customer segments, and localizing manufacturing to key markets like India to reduce tariffs and labor costs.
Finally, Session 6 delivered a Synthesised Conclusion, affirming that by implementing these prioritised, data-driven strategies, the 30% price reduction goal is realistic, enabling Tesla to successfully re-position itself as a dominant leader in the global affordable electric vehicle market.
Skills Demonstrated
Strategic Financial Analysis: Detailed cost and competitive analysis of a global automotive leader.
Problem-Solving: Systematic disaggregation of a complex business problem into manageable components.
Strategic Planning: Development and prioritization of multiple high-impact solutions.
Market Research: Understanding and addressing shifts in global EV demand and competitive landscape.
Academic Rigor: Completion of a formal, in-depth business insight project report (Dissertation).