Hitachi vs Tesla: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Hitachi reported ~$70.9B of revenue in FY2026 and ~$5.4B of net income. Tesla reported $94.8B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.8B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
Hitachi
Hitachi posted a ~$5.27 billion (¥787.3 billion) net loss for fiscal 2008, then the largest ever by a Japanese manufacturer. Under Takashi Kawamura and Hiroaki Nakanishi it cut loss-making consumer businesses, and later leaders sold listed subsidiaries such as Hitachi Chemical (2020), Hitachi Metals (2023), and a controlling stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery (2022). Revenue dipped from ~$72.9 billion (¥10.88 trillion) in FY2022 to ~$65.2 billion (¥9.73 trillion) in FY2023 as those units left, then climbed back to ~$71 billion (¥10.59 trillion) in FY2025 on organic growth. FY2025 adjusted EBITA was a record ~$8.78 billion (¥1.31 trillion) (12.4% margin) and net income was ~$5.38 billion (¥802.3 billion), up about 30%. In Q1 FY2026 (April-June 2026) revenue rose 20% to ~$18.2 billion (¥2,709.6 billion), helped by currency, and management raised full-year guidance.
Tesla
Tesla's revenue peaked at $97.69 billion in 2024 and slipped 2.9% to $94.83 billion in FY2025, while net income fell from $7.09 billion to $3.79 billion as vehicle prices and regulatory-credit income declined. The second quarter of 2026 reversed the top-line trend: revenue rose 26% to a record $28.24 billion, with automotive up 23% to $20.52 billion, services and other up 50% to $4.58 billion, and energy up 13% to $3.14 billion. Profit did not follow. GAAP net income fell 5% to $1.11 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.33 missed estimates because of higher R&D and AI infrastructure spending.
Revenue and profit by year
Hitachi
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | ~$70.9B | ~$5.4B | 7.6% | +8.2% | Source |
| FY2025 | ~$65.5B | ~$4.1B | 6.3% | +0.6% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$65.2B | ~$4B | 6.1% | -10.6% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$72.9B | ~$4.3B | 6.0% | +6.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$68.8B | ~$3.9B | 5.7% | — | Source |
Tesla
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $94.8B | $3.8B | 4.0% | -2.9% | Source |
| FY2024 | $97.7B | $7.1B | 7.3% | +0.9% | Source |
| FY2023 | $96.8B | $15B | 15.5% | +18.8% | Source |
| FY2022 | $81.5B | $12.6B | 15.4% | +51.4% | Source |
| FY2021 | $53.8B | $5.5B | 10.3% | +70.7% | Source |
| FY2020 | $31.5B | $721M | 2.3% | +28.3% | Source |
| FY2019 | $24.6B | -$862M | -3.5% | +14.5% | Source |
| FY2018 | $21.5B | -$976M | -4.5% | +82.5% | Source |
| FY2017 | $11.8B | -$2B | -16.7% | +68.0% | Source |
| FY2016 | $7B | -$674.9M | -9.6% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Hitachi
- Digital Systems & Services
Reported sector
Japanese IT systems for finance and government, GlobalLogic digital engineering, cloud and managed services, and Lumada solutions.
- Energy
Reported sector
Hitachi Energy grid infrastructure, HVDC, transformers, and related service contracts.
- Mobility
Reported sector
Hitachi Rail trains, signalling and train control (including former Thales GTS), and maintenance.
- Connective Industries
Reported sector
Building systems, industrial products and systems, Hitachi High-Tech, and, until its sale, home appliances.
Tesla
- Automotive sales and leasing~73%
Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck and remaining other models, plus regulatory credits. $20.52B in Q2 2026.
- Services and other~16%
Supercharging, FSD and connectivity software, service, used cars, insurance and parts. $4.58B in Q2 2026, up 50%.
- Energy generation and storage~11%
Megapack, Powerwall and solar. $3.14B in Q2 2026, up 13%.
Business model and strategy
Hitachi
How it makes money
Hitachi is a B2B infrastructure and IT company. It sells long-lived physical assets (transformers, HVDC converter stations, trains, signalling, elevators, semiconductor metrology tools) and then earns recurring service, maintenance, and software revenue on that installed base. Lumada is the umbrella for the data, AI, and digital services layered on top, and Hitachi reports Lumada as a growing share of total revenue.
Growth strategy
Hitachi grows by attaching software and services to its installed base and by reshaping its portfolio. It is expanding Hitachi Energy factory capacity for transformers and HVDC, integrating Thales GTS into Hitachi Rail, and scaling Lumada through GlobalLogic and AI partnerships.
Competitive advantage
Hitachi's edge is owning both the operational technology and the IT. Hitachi Energy (built on ABB's former Power Grids business) is one of a handful of suppliers able to deliver HVDC links and large power transformers at scale, Hitachi Rail became a top-tier signalling supplier after buying Thales GTS in 2024, and GlobalLogic plus Hitachi's Japanese IT business supply the software.
Tesla
How it makes money
Tesla operates a vertically integrated electric vehicle, clean energy generation, and software ecosystem model. The company generates revenue across four primary pillars: First, Automotive Sales and Leasing, selling mass-market electric vehicles (Model Y, Model 3) and premium models (Model S, Model X, Cybertruck) directly to consumers without franchised dealers.
Growth strategy
Tesla's growth plan rests on four bets. First, regain vehicle volume: deliveries fell 8.6% to 1.64 million in 2025, then rebounded to a record 480,126 in Q2 2026, up 25% year over year. Second, autonomy: Tesla runs a paid robotaxi service in several U.S. cities and is building the steering-wheel-free Cybercab, though the Q2 2026 shareholder letter dropped the target of volume production in 2026.
Competitive advantage
Tesla's advantage comes from brand strength, direct sales, software updates, charging infrastructure, battery and powertrain know-how, manufacturing scale, data, and energy-storage growth.
Questions about Hitachi vs Tesla
Which company has higher revenue — Hitachi, Ltd. or Tesla, Inc.?
Hitachi, Ltd. reported ~$70.9B (FY2026), while Tesla, Inc. reported $94.8B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Tesla, Inc. is the larger business, with Hitachi, Ltd. reporting a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of Hitachi, Ltd. vs Tesla, Inc.?
Hitachi, Ltd.'s market capitalisation stands at $157.8B, while Tesla, Inc.'s is $1.49T. Tesla, Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Hitachi, Ltd..
Which is more financially efficient — Hitachi, Ltd. or Tesla, Inc.?
Hitachi, Ltd. generates $246k / employee in revenue per employee, while Tesla, Inc. generates $704k / employee. Tesla, Inc. shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Hitachi, Ltd. and Tesla, Inc. make money?
Hitachi, Ltd. and Tesla, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Hitachi, Ltd.: Hitachi is a B2B infrastructure and IT company. Tesla, Inc.: Tesla operates a vertically integrated electric vehicle, clean energy generation, and software ecosystem model.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Hitachi, Ltd. or Tesla, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Hitachi, Ltd. trades at 2.2x P/S and Tesla, Inc. at 15.7x P/S. Tesla, Inc. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Hitachi, Ltd.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Hitachi, Ltd. bigger than Tesla, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, Tesla, Inc. ($94.8B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Hitachi, Ltd. (~$70.9B (FY2026)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hitachi vs Tesla overview