Dear Robina,
The strength of a brand is measured in tangible products or services. Trsla is all hype with no product worth the valuation that can be produced PROFITABLY. Musk can't postpone incurring losses indefinitely
Tangible products and services - these are measured by
sales, not profits. Besides 50%+ yoy growth in sales, Tesla has advance orders and will claim a big marketshare soon. So the brand is very strong on that count. Tesla has also taken the global utility and consumer energy storage business by storm... a big deal as gasoline and fossils get banned in the west.
Profits - this is not that useful. Tesla gets big cheap loans - $B+ on the strength of its stock - the true measure of value. So long as Musk keeps the fans mesmerized and the orders coming, the investors keep the stock rising and the bankers open the troves. Profits mean little so long as the investor sees value in the stock. Until it claims a mass market, the Model 3 will be sold at a premium.
See it this way, you buy stock for 1)profit or 2)increasing value. With 2 Tesla does not need 1. Until it eventually does and 1 replaces 2 as in most old businesses.