v3.20.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020, the consolidated statements of operations, the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, the consolidated statements of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, as well as other information disclosed in the accompanying notes, are unaudited. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. The interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the periods presented. The consolidated results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or for any other future years or interim periods.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures in the accompanying notes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been uncertainty and disruption in the global economy and financial markets. The estimates used for, but not limited to, determining significant economic incentive for residual value guarantee arrangements, sales return reserves, the collectability of accounts receivable, inventory valuation, fair value of long-lived assets, goodwill, fair value of financial instruments, fair value and residual value of operating lease vehicles and solar energy systems subject to leases could be impacted. We have assessed the impact and are not aware of any specific events or circumstances that required an update to our estimates and assumptions or materially affected the carrying value of our assets or liabilities as of the date of issuance of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Restricted cash and MyPower customer notes receivable have been reclassified to other assets and resale value guarantees has been reclassified to other liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue by source

The following table disaggregates our revenue by major source (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Automotive sales without resale value guarantee

 

$

4,367

 

 

$

3,683

 

Automotive sales with resale value guarantee (1)

 

 

172

 

 

 

(390

)

Automotive regulatory credits

 

 

354

 

 

 

216

 

Energy generation and storage sales

 

 

173

 

 

 

212

 

Services and other

 

 

560

 

 

 

493

 

Total revenues from sales and services

 

 

5,626

 

 

 

4,214

 

Automotive leasing

 

 

239

 

 

 

215

 

Energy generation and storage leasing

 

 

120

 

 

 

112

 

Total revenues

 

$

5,985

 

 

$

4,541

 

 

(1)

Due to pricing adjustments we made to our vehicle offerings in the three months ended March 31, 2019, we estimated that there was a greater likelihood that customers would exercise their buyback options and adjusted our sales return reserve on vehicles previously sold under our buyback options program which resulted in a reduction of automotive sales with resale value guarantee of $501 million that did not similarly occur during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The amount presented in the three months ended March 31, 2019 represents automotive sales with resale value guarantee net of such pricing adjustments impact.

 

Automotive Sales Revenue

Automotive Sales with and without Resale Value Guarantee

Deferred revenue related to the access to our Supercharger network, internet connectivity and Full Self Driving (“FSD”) features and over-the-air software updates on automotive sales with and without resale value guarantee amounted to $1.53 billion and $1.47 billion as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Deferred revenue is equivalent to the total transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied, or partially unsatisfied, as of the balance sheet date. Revenue recognized from the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $57 million and $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Of the total deferred revenue on automotive sales with and without resale value guarantees, we expect to recognize $810 million of revenue in the next 12 months. The remaining balance will be recognized over the various performance periods of the obligations, which is up to the eight-year life of the vehicle.

With the exception of two programs which are discussed within the Automotive Leasing Revenue section, we recognize revenue when control transfers upon delivery to customers as a sale with a right of return as we do not believe the customer has a significant economic incentive to exercise the resale value guarantee provided to them. The total sales return reserve on vehicles previously sold under our buyback options program was $594 and $639 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, of which $106 and $93 million was short term, respectively. 

Automotive Regulatory Credits

Deferred revenue related to sales of automotive regulatory credits was $140 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. No revenue was recognized from the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2019. We expect to recognize the deferred revenue as of March 31, 2020 in the next 12 months.

Automotive Leasing Revenue

Automotive leasing revenue includes revenue recognized under lease accounting guidance for our direct leasing programs as well as the two programs with resale value guarantees described below.

Vehicle Sales to Leasing Partners with a Resale Value Guarantee and a Buyback Option

The maximum amount we could be required to pay under our collateralized lease borrowing program, should we decide to repurchase all vehicles, was $149 million and $214 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, including $113 million within a 12-month period from March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had $164 million and $238 million, respectively, of collateralized lease borrowings recorded in accrued liabilities and other and other long-term liabilities, and $20 million and $29 million, respectively, recorded in deferred revenue liability. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized $33 million and $53 million, respectively, of leasing revenue related to this program. The net carrying amount of operating lease vehicles under this program was $132 million and $190 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Vehicle Sales to Customers with a Resale Value Guarantee where Exercise is Probable

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had resale value guarantees where exercise is probable of $74 million and $115 million, respectively, recorded in accrued liabilities and other. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized $35 million and $48 million, respectively, of leasing revenue related to this program. The net carrying amount of operating lease vehicles under this program was $53 million and $83 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Energy Generation and Storage Sales

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, deferred revenue related to non-refundable customer prepayments, remote monitoring service, and operations and maintenance service amounted to $149 million and $156 million, respectively. Revenue recognized from the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $21 million and $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of March 31, 2020, total transaction price allocated to performance obligations that were unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied for contracts with an original expected length of more than one year was $102 million. Of this amount, we expect to recognize $5 million in the next 12 months and the remaining over a period up to 28 years.

 

Income Taxes

There are transactions that occur during the ordinary course of business for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate balances of our gross unrecognized tax benefits were $274 million and $273 million, respectively, of which $248 million and $247 million, respectively, would not give rise to changes in our effective tax rate since these tax benefits would increase a deferred tax asset that is currently fully offset by a valuation allowance.

Net Income (Loss) per Share of Common Stock Attributable to Common Stockholders

Basic net income (loss) per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for the period. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we increased net loss attributable to common stockholders by $8 million to arrive at the numerator used to calculate net loss per share. This adjustment represents the difference between the cash we paid to a financing fund investor for their noncontrolling interest in one of our subsidiaries and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest on our consolidated balance sheet, in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings per Share. Potentially dilutive shares, which are based on the weighted-average shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock-based awards, warrants and convertible senior notes using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable, are included when calculating diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders when their effect is dilutive. Since we intend to settle or have settled in cash the principal outstanding under our 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2019, 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2021, 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2022, 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2024 and our subsidiary’s 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2022, we use the treasury stock method applied using our average share price during the period when calculating their potential dilutive effect, if any. Furthermore, in connection with the offerings of our notes, we entered into convertible note hedges and warrants (see Note 10, Debt). However, our convertible note hedges are not included when calculating potentially dilutive shares since their effect is always anti-dilutive. Warrants which have a strike price above our average share price during the period were out of the money and have not been included in the tables below.

 

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders (in millions, except per share data):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

   attributable to common stockholders, basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

 

$

16

 

 

$

(702

)

Less: Buy-out of noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

Net income (loss) used in computing net income

   (loss) per share of common stock, basic

 

 

16

 

 

 

(710

)

Weighted average shares used in computing net

   income (loss) per share of common stock, basic

 

 

183

 

 

 

173

 

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

   attributable to common stockholders, basic

 

$

0.09

 

 

$

(4.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

   attributable to common stockholders, diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

 

$

16

 

 

$

(702

)

Less: Buy-out of noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

Net income (loss) used in computing net income

   (loss) per share of common stock, diluted

 

 

16

 

 

 

(710

)

Weighted average shares used in computing net

   income (loss) per share of common stock, basic

 

 

183

 

 

 

173

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based awards

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Warrants

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in computing net

   income (loss) per share of common stock, diluted

 

 

199

 

 

 

173

 

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

   attributable to common stockholders, diluted

 

$

0.08

 

 

$

(4.10

)

 

The following table presents the potentially dilutive shares that were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders, because their effect was anti-dilutive (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Stock-based awards

 

 

0

 

 

 

11

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

0

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

Restricted Cash

We maintain certain cash balances restricted as to withdrawal or use. Our restricted cash is comprised primarily of cash as collateral for our sales to lease partners with a resale value guarantee, letters of credit, real estate leases, insurance policies, credit card borrowing facilities and certain operating leases. In addition, restricted cash includes cash received from certain fund investors that have not been released for use by us and cash held to service certain payments under various secured debt facilities. The fair value of our restricted cash invested in commercial paper equals the carrying value using quoted prices in active markets (Level I). We record restricted cash as other assets in the consolidated balance sheets and determine current or non-current classification based on the expected duration of the restriction.

Our total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows, was as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8,080

 

 

$

6,268

 

 

$

2,198

 

 

$

3,686

 

Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses

   and other current assets

 

 

193

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

131

 

 

 

193

 

Restricted cash included in other non-current assets

 

 

274

 

 

 

269

 

 

 

354

 

 

 

398

 

Total as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows

 

$

8,547

 

 

$

6,783

 

 

$

2,683

 

 

$

4,277

 

 

MyPower Customer Notes Receivable

We have customer notes receivable under the legacy MyPower loan program. MyPower was offered by one of our subsidiaries to provide residential customers with the option to finance the purchase of a solar energy system through a 30-year loan. The outstanding balances, net of any allowance for credit losses, are presented on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets for the current portion and as other non-current assets for the long-term portion. We adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC 326”) on January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis. Under ASC 326, expected credit loss for customer notes receivable are measured on a collective basis and are determined as the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of cash flows expected to be collected. In determining expected credit losses, we consider our historical level of credit losses, current economic trends, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the future cash flows. We write-off customer notes receivable when they are deemed uncollectible and the amount of potentially uncollectible amounts has been insignificant. Using a modified retrospective approach for the impact upon adoption, we recorded an increase to the allowance for credit losses of $37 million on January 1, 2020, with an offset to accumulated deficit. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the total outstanding balance of MyPower customer notes receivable, net of allowance for credit losses, was $358 million and $402 million, respectively, of which $9 million was due in the next 12 months as of both periods. As of March 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $45 million. In addition, there were no material non-accrual or past due customer notes receivable as of March 31, 2020.

Concentration of Risk

Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, convertible note hedges, and interest rate swaps. Our cash balances are primarily invested in money market funds or on deposit at high credit quality financial institutions in the U.S. These deposits are typically in excess of insured limits. As of March 31, 2020, one entity represented 10% or more of our total accounts receivable balance, which was related to sales of regulatory credits. As of December 31, 2019, no entity represented 10% of our total accounts receivable balance. The risk of concentration for our interest rate swaps is mitigated by transacting with several highly-rated multinational banks.

Supply Risk

We are dependent on our suppliers, the majority of which are single source suppliers, and the inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components of our products in a timely manner at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, or our inability to efficiently manage these components from these suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

The specific timing and pace of our resumption of normal U.S. manufacturing operations will depend on the status of various government regulations and the readiness of our suppliers and vendors. Although we are working with each of our suppliers and government agencies on how best to resume and sustain production, it ultimately remains uncertain how quickly we and our suppliers will be able to return to prior levels of production and maintain such levels.

Operating Lease Vehicles

The gross cost of operating lease vehicles recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $2.94 billion and $2.85 billion, respectively, net of accumulated depreciation of $412 million and $406 million, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Warranties

We provide a manufacturer’s warranty on all new and used vehicles and production powertrain components and systems we sell. In addition, we also provide a warranty on the installation and components of the energy generation and storage systems we sell for periods typically between 10 to 25 years. We accrue a warranty reserve for the products sold by us, which includes our best estimate of the projected costs to repair or replace items under warranties and recalls when identified. These estimates are based on actual claims incurred to date and an estimate of the nature, frequency and costs of future claims. These estimates are inherently uncertain given our relatively short history of sales, and changes to our historical or projected warranty experience may cause material changes to the warranty reserve in the future. The warranty reserve does not include projected warranty costs associated with our vehicles subject to lease accounting and our solar energy systems under lease contracts or Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”), as the costs to repair these warranty claims are expensed as incurred. The portion of the warranty reserve expected to be incurred within the next 12 months is included within accrued liabilities and other, while the remaining balance is included within other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. Due to the magnitude of our automotive business, accrued warranty balance was primarily related to our automotive segment. Accrued warranty activity consisted of the following (in millions): 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Accrued warranty—beginning of period

 

$

1,089

 

 

$

748

 

Warranty costs incurred

 

 

(81

)

 

 

(54

)

Net changes in liability for pre-existing warranties, including

   expirations and foreign exchange impact

 

 

3

 

 

 

38

 

Provision for warranty

 

 

119

 

 

 

112

 

Accrued warranty—end of period

 

$

1,130

 

 

$

844

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in the ASU include removing exceptions to incremental intraperiod tax allocation of losses and gains from different financial statement components, exceptions to the method of recognizing income taxes on interim period losses, and exceptions to deferred tax liability recognition related to foreign subsidiary investments. In addition, the ASU requires that entities recognize franchise tax based on an incremental method and requires an entity to evaluate the accounting for step-ups in the tax basis of Goodwill as inside or outside of a business combination.

The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. Early adoption of the standard is permitted, including adoption in interim or annual periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. We have not early adopted this ASU as of March 31, 2020.  The ASU is currently not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (Topic 848).  The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to transactions affected by reference rate (e.g., LIBOR) reform if certain criteria are met, for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting.  The ASU is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022.  We will evaluate transactions or contract modifications occurring as a result of reference rate reform and determine whether to apply the optional guidance on an ongoing basis.  The ASU is currently not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, to require financial assets carried at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts. Subsequently, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, to clarify that receivables arising from operating leases are within the scope of lease accounting standards. Further, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, ASU No. 2019-05, ASU 2019-10, ASU 2019-11, ASU 2020-02 and ASU 2020-03 to provide additional guidance on the credit losses standard. The ASUs are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of the ASUs is on a modified retrospective basis. We adopted the ASUs on January 1, 2020. The ASUs did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. This ASU applies to all financial assets including loans, trade receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact except on MyPower Customer Notes Receivable. Refer to MyPower Customer Notes Receivable above for further details.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, to simplify the test for goodwill impairment by removing Step 2. An entity will, therefore, perform the goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. An entity still has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of the ASU is prospective. We adopted the ASU prospectively on January 1, 2020. The ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that Is a Service Contract. The ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of the ASU is either retrospective or prospective. We adopted the ASU prospectively on January 1, 2020. The ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.