Tesla vs General Motors: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Tesla · Consumer Cyclical / Auto Manufacturers·General Motors · Consumer Cyclical / Auto Manufacturers
Financial Comparison
| Metric | TSLATesla | GMGeneral Motors |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $1.49T | $70.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $94.83B | $185.02B |
| Revenue Growth | -3.1% | -5.1% |
| Gross Margin | 18.0% | 10.7% |
| Operating Margin | 4.7% | 6.5% |
| Net Margin | 4.0% | 1.5% |
| Return on Equity | 4.9% | 4.3% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 364.0x | 23.0x |
| P/E (Forward) | 141.2x | 5.4x |
| Free Cash Flow | $3.73B | $8.56B |
| Cash | $44.06B | $27.67B |
| Total Debt | $14.72B | $131.58B |
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.
Business Model Comparison
Tesla
Tesla stands as the leading electric vehicle manufacturer and clean energy company. Generating $94.83 billion in annual revenue (growing -3.1% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $1.52 trillion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Auto Manufacturers landscape. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investment w…
Full Tesla analysis →General Motors
General Motors Company stands as a leading company in Consumer Cyclical. Generating $185.02 billion in annual revenue (growing -5.1% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $71.08 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Auto Manufacturers landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, General Motors Company continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances gr…
Full General Motors analysis →SWOT Analysis Comparison
Strengths
Tesla
- With a market capitalization of $1.52T, Tesla is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that smaller com
- Tesla generated $3.73B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
- Supercharger network: 60,000+ chargers globally, now the de facto standard for EV charging in North America
General Motors
- General Motors Company generated $8.56B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
Weaknesses
Tesla
- Year-over-year revenue declined 3.1%, raising questions about demand for Tesla's core offerings and requiring management to articulate a credible recovery path.
- A net profit margin of 4.0% leaves limited buffer against revenue fluctuations or cost increases. Any significant market downturn could quickly pressure profitability.
- With 134,785 employees globally, Tesla faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that smaller, nimbler competito
General Motors
- With a debt-to-equity ratio of 208.3, General Motors Company carries significant debt relative to equity. While manageable given its cash flow, elevated leverage limits financial flexibility and incre
- Year-over-year revenue declined 5.1%, raising questions about demand for General Motors Company's core offerings and requiring management to articulate a credible recovery path.
- A net profit margin of 1.5% leaves limited buffer against revenue fluctuations or cost increases. Any significant market downturn could quickly pressure profitability.
Opportunities
Tesla
- Tesla operates in the Auto Manufacturers segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in this environment t
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Tesla's
- With $44.06B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, Tesla is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
General Motors
- General Motors Company operates in the Auto Manufacturers segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in t
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for General
- With $27.67B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, General Motors Company is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
Threats
Tesla
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Tesla's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scenario c
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Tesla's business mo
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
General Motors
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. General Motors Company's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a rec
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on General Motors Comp
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
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Open Comparison ToolTesla vs General Motors: FAQ
- Is Tesla bigger than General Motors?
- By market capitalization, Tesla is larger at $1.49T vs General Motors's $70.16B.
- Which has better profit margins — Tesla or General Motors?
- Tesla has higher net profit margins (4.0%) compared to General Motors (1.5%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Tesla and General Motors operate in?
- Tesla operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Auto Manufacturers). General Motors operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Auto Manufacturers).
- How does Tesla's revenue compare to General Motors's?
- Tesla generates $94.83B in annual revenue (TTM) while General Motors generates $185.02B. General Motors is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.