Elon Musk urges Tesla workers to cut costs

Elon Musk sent an e-mail to employees at Tesla Motors urging them to cut costs and deliver "every car we possibly can" in a push to show positive cash flow in the third quarter.

The chief executive officer of the electric-car company said it would be his last chance to show improved financial numbers before he tries to raise more money. The third quarter is crucial to Tesla's future because the company is trying to acquire SolarCity and preparing to roll out the Model 3, its lower-priced sedan, late next year.

"The simple reality of it is that we will be in a far better position to convince potential investors to bet on us if the headline is not 'Tesla Loses Money Again,' but rather 'Tesla Defies All Expectations and Achieves Profitability.'" Musk wrote in an August 29 e-mail obtained by Bloomberg on Friday.

A Tesla spokesperson verified the authenticity of the e-mail. The e-mail says that Tesla is "on the razor's edge of achieving a good Q3, but it requires building and delivering every car we possibly can, while simultaneously trimming any cost that isn't critical, at least for the next 4.5 weeks."