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Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) credit rating, including the issuer credit rating and issue-level ratings, was raised to investment grade at S&P on Thursday, to ‘BBB’ from ‘BB+.’
The firm made the decision to upgrade the electric vehicle giant’s rating on its improving production and “solid cash flow prospects.”
“Tesla Inc.’s reported production and deliveries for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2022, were higher than our expectations and the ramp-up in its global capacity appears on track to meet the strong demand for its products into 2023,” S&P Global stated in a press release.
The firm now expects Tesla to sell 2 million units in 2023 (above its prior upgrade trigger of 1.5 million units). In addition, it believes the pace of production growth and the level of manufacturing efficiency in its Austin and Berlin facilities have been better than its prior expectations.
The firm said it now views”more favorably” as the company continues to demonstrate market leadership in electric vehicles, with solid manufacturing efficiency that supports strong EBITDA margins and sustained positive free operating cash flow, above previously established upside triggers.
“The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Tesla will maintain low debt levels as it sustains its solid market share, profitability, and strong liquidity amid a weakening economy and an increasingly competitive environment for EVs,” added S&P Global.
