The fourth quarter won't be easy for the company, but there's a lot to look forward to beyond the near-term data.

Tesla ( TSLA -1.16% ) investors have already gotten clues as to what to expect from the company's upcoming third-quarter results. That's because last week, management reported its electric vehicle delivery numbers for the third quarter. They were encouraging numbers, and since Tesla sells direct to customers, its delivery numbers are its sales volumes.

While the quarter's numbers beat the analyst consensus, it's not likely to be the key recent development that will drive the stock higher. Here's a look at three things that could be.

1. Tesla's third-quarter earnings and what they could mean for Q4

The third quarter earnings report is scheduled for release on Oct. 2

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