Tesla Reports 87% Growth in Annual Vehicle Deliveries

The electric-vehicle maker’s expansion comes despite parts shortages and other logistical problems that have hamstrung the global auto industry

Tesla Inc. annual vehicle deliveries surged 87% in 2021, growing at their fastest pace in years, as the company leveraged its Silicon Valley roots to overcome computer-chip shortages that have plagued the global auto industry.

The company’s expansion came in a year of tepid growth for the global auto industry, which has been hit hard by supply-chain disruptions and is estimated to have sold 3% more passenger vehicles last year than in 2020 and 12% fewer than in 2019, according to IHS Markit.

Tesla Reports 87% Growth in Annual Vehicle Deliveries

The electric-vehicle maker’s expansion comes despite parts shortages and other logistical problems that have hamstrung the global auto industry

Tesla Inc. annual vehicle deliveries surged 87% in 2021, growing at their fastest pace in years, as the company leveraged its Silicon Valley roots to overcome computer-chip shortages that have plagued the global auto industry.

The company’s expansion came in a year of tepid growth for the global auto industry, which has been hit hard by supply-chain disruptions and is estimated to have sold 3% more passenger vehicles last year than in 2020 and 12% fewer than in 2019, according to IHS Markit.

A Master Penny-Pincher Draws a Following in Japan Megumi Nakano offers daily tips on Instagram about how not to spend money. 

Half a radish is put to good use.

On a recent afternoon, Megumi Nakano signed copies of her book for some of her 117,000 Instagram followers, who oohed and aahed at seeing her in the flesh.

Ms. Nakano is no movie star or Olympic medalist. Her path to social-media fame came through champion-level penny-pinching.

With tips on how to use a leftover radish and what to buy at a dollar store, the 40-year-old mother of two has tapped into one of Japan’s enduring passions—to the chagrin of government officials who think the economy could get out its pandemic funk a lot faster if people would stop being so frugal.

Ms. Nakano says saving yen is a lot more rewarding.

“I feel like I’m more affluent at heart now than when I was spending more money and possessed more things,” she said. “It is an affluent frugality.”

A Master Penny-Pincher Draws a Following in Japan Megumi Nakano offers daily tips on Instagram about how not to spend money. 

Half a radish is put to good use.

On a recent afternoon, Megumi Nakano signed copies of her book for some of her 117,000 Instagram followers, who oohed and aahed at seeing her in the flesh.

Ms. Nakano is no movie star or Olympic medalist. Her path to social-media fame came through champion-level penny-pinching.

With tips on how to use a leftover radish and what to buy at a dollar store, the 40-year-old mother of two has tapped into one of Japan’s enduring passions—to the chagrin of government officials who think the economy could get out its pandemic funk a lot faster if people would stop being so frugal.

Ms. Nakano says saving yen is a lot more rewarding.

“I feel like I’m more affluent at heart now than when I was spending more money and possessed more things,” she said. “It is an affluent frugality.”

The Metaverse Isn’t Quite Ready for You, but Your Investment Is Welcome.

It could pay off, much like the purchase of land in Manhattan 250 years ago.

In a 24-hour experiment with a virtual reality headset, Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist Joanna Stern described the metaverse last month as fractured, freaky, sometimes frightening, but also kind of fun. All in a (virtual) day’s work, she traveled, exercised and played games. As a “legless torso that glides as a ghost,” she even met with her editor. In real life, she nursed a headache.

For the consumer, the metaverse doesn’t seem ready for prime time. But given its fabled promise, maybe it is these nascent shortcomings that make this piece of the so-called “Web3” especially attractive for investors to dive into right now.

The Metaverse Isn’t Quite Ready for You, but Your Investment Is Welcome.

It could pay off, much like the purchase of land in Manhattan 250 years ago.

In a 24-hour experiment with a virtual reality headset, Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist Joanna Stern described the metaverse last month as fractured, freaky, sometimes frightening, but also kind of fun. All in a (virtual) day’s work, she traveled, exercised and played games. As a “legless torso that glides as a ghost,” she even met with her editor. In real life, she nursed a headache.

For the consumer, the metaverse doesn’t seem ready for prime time. But given its fabled promise, maybe it is these nascent shortcomings that make this piece of the so-called “Web3” especially attractive for investors to dive into right now.

In Hunt for Next ‘Squid Game,’ Streaming Services Battle for South Korean Shows.

Netflix, Apple and Disney could push up acquisition costs as they try to ride wave of interest in K-dramas.

South Korea’s television industry is experiencing a post-“Squid Game” bump as the country becomes a content battleground for the global streaming wars. Now it has to keep delivering.

“Squid Game,” the dystopian drama that became Netflix Inc.’s most watched show, reached new heights for South Korean content and created expectations for repeat success. That came last month when “Hellbound,” a dark fantasy series, topped Netflix’s global charts upon its debut. Four of Netflix’s six most watched non-English-language TV shows in recent weeks have hailed from South Korea.

In Hunt for Next ‘Squid Game,’ Streaming Services Battle for South Korean Shows.

Netflix, Apple and Disney could push up acquisition costs as they try to ride wave of interest in K-dramas.

South Korea’s television industry is experiencing a post-“Squid Game” bump as the country becomes a content battleground for the global streaming wars. Now it has to keep delivering.

“Squid Game,” the dystopian drama that became Netflix Inc.’s most watched show, reached new heights for South Korean content and created expectations for repeat success. That came last month when “Hellbound,” a dark fantasy series, topped Netflix’s global charts upon its debut. Four of Netflix’s six most watched non-English-language TV shows in recent weeks have hailed from South Korea.

With just $36.6 million in ticket sales, ‘West Side Story’ is officially a box-office bomb

Despite rave reviews, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” has failed to gain traction with audiences at the box office.

In its first three weeks in cinemas, the film has captured just $36.6 million in global ticket sales. Its production budget was around $100 million, not including marketing costs.

Box-office analysts say the film suffered because it was targeted at older audiences, who are hesitant to return to cinemas during the Covid pandemic, lacked a major Hollywood star and was pit against “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

With just $36.6 million in ticket sales, ‘West Side Story’ is officially a box-office bomb

Despite rave reviews, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” has failed to gain traction with audiences at the box office.

In its first three weeks in cinemas, the film has captured just $36.6 million in global ticket sales. Its production budget was around $100 million, not including marketing costs.

Box-office analysts say the film suffered because it was targeted at older audiences, who are hesitant to return to cinemas during the Covid pandemic, lacked a major Hollywood star and was pit against “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”