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Tesla’s Elon Musk and SEC explains their settlement in joint letter to US judge

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7 years ago

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Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission have submitted a joint letter explaining their settlement for a lawsuit resulting from the Tesla CEO’s “funding secured” tweet last August. The letter, which was dated October 11, 2018, comes a week after U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan asked Musk and the SEC to justify their settlement before she approves the deal.

The CEO found himself in hot water late last month after the SEC filed a suit over tweets posted in August, when Musk announced that he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share, and that he had “funding secured.” Tesla stock plunged as news of the agency’s lawsuit emerged, dropping more than 13% amidst reports that Musk allegedly rejected a settlement prepared by the SEC. Elon Musk would agree to a settlement with the SEC in the weekend that followed. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Musk would be required to step down as Chairman of Tesla’s Board of Directors. The company would also appoint two new independent directors to its board. Elon Musk and Tesla Inc. would have to pay a fine of $20 million each as well, which would, in turn, be distributed to harmed investors under a court-approved process. In a statement last Thursday, Judge Nathan asked Musk and the SEC for a joint letter explaining their settlement, noting that the court needs to make a “minimal determination of whether the agreement is appropriate” before things are finalized.

The SEC noted in the joint letter that it considered multiple factors when it was determining the appropriate penalties for Musk and Tesla, from the gravity of Musk’s alleged violations to the CEO’s lack of monetary gain resulting from his “funding secured” tweet.

“In this case, the SEC considered multiple factors in determining appropriate civil  penalties. These included the seriousness of the alleged violations, the market impact caused by the alleged conduct, and Defendants’ financial means, but also countervailing factors such as Defendants’ willingness to settle these actions promptly, Defendants’ apparent lack of pecuniary gain, and the limited temporal scope of the conduct.”

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The agency further noted that sanctions against Elon Musk and Tesla are designed to benefit investors by putting additional governance measures in the electric car and energy company. Musk’s representatives, for their part, simply noted in the joint letter that the CEO believes a prompt resolution through the settlement is in the best interests of Tesla’s investors.

“Tesla and Mr. Musk believe that a prompt resolution of these actions through settlement is in the best interests of investors and should be approved.”

The submission of Elon Musk and the SEC’s joint letter comes amidst news that one of Tesla’s largest investors has increased its stake in the company. On Wednesday, it was revealed that T. Rowe Price Group Inc., which owned 11.93 million TSLA shares at the end of Q2 2018, increased its stake in the company in Q3. By the end of September, the firm held 17.4 million TSLA shares, making it the company’s second-largest shareholder, second only to Elon Musk. Another institutional investor, Bailey Gifford, which owns 13.2 million TSLA shares, currently stands as Tesla’s third-largest shareholder.

With Tesla’s Q3 earnings report coming in less than four weeks, T. Rowe Price’s increased stake in the electric car maker could prove to be a strategic investment for the financial firm. Tesla, after all, finished the third quarter on a strong note, delivering and producing a record number of vehicles. Less than two days before the end of the quarter, Musk even sent out a message to Tesla’s employees, urging them to work hard as the company is “very close” to profitability. Since October began, Tesla has also been showing signs that its Model 3 production ramp continues to grow stronger. Teases of an eventual international rollout for the electric car, such as an exhibit in the Paris Motor Show, further suggest that Tesla is steadily gaining its foothold in its efforts to roll out its first mass-market vehicle.

Elon Musk and the SEC’s joint letter could be read in full below.

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SEC v Elon Musk – Joint Sub… by on Scribd

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Supercharger Diner food menu gets a sneak peek as construction closes out

What are you ordering at the Tesla Diner?

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8 hours ago

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July 18, 2025

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Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

The Tesla Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles is nearing completion as construction appears to be winding down significantly. However, the more minor details, such as what the company will serve at its 50s-style diner for food, are starting to be revealed.

Tesla’s Supercharger Diner is set to open soon, seven years after CEO Elon Musk first drafted the idea in a post on X in 2018. Musk has largely come through on most of what he envisioned for the project: the diner, the massive movie screens, and the intended vibe are all present, thanks to the aerial and ground footage shared on social media.

We already know the Diner will be open 24/7, based on decals placed on the front door of the restaurant that were shared earlier this week. We assume that Tesla Optimus will come into play for these long and uninterrupted hours.

The Tesla Diner is basically finished—here’s what it looks like

As far as the food, Tesla does have an email also printed on the front door of the Diner, but we did not receive any response back (yet) about what cuisine it will be offering. We figured it would be nothing fancy and it would be typical diner staples: burgers, fries, wings, milkshakes, etc.

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According to pictures taken by @Tesla_lighting_, which were shared by Not a Tesla App, the food will be just that: quick and affordable meals that diners do well. It’s nothing crazy, just typical staples you’d find at any diner, just with a Tesla twist:

As the food menu is finalized, we will be sure to share any details Tesla provides, including a full list of what will be served and its prices.

Additionally, the entire property appears to be nearing its final construction stages, and it seems it may even be nearing completion. The movie screens are already up and showing videos of things like SpaceX launches.

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There are many cars already using the Superchargers at the restaurant, and employees inside the facility look to be putting the finishing touches on the interior.

It’s almost reminiscent of a Tesla version of a Buc-ee’s, a southern staple convenience store that offers much more than a traditional gas station. Of course, Tesla’s version is futuristic and more catered to the company’s image, but the idea is the same.

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It’s a one-stop shop for anything you’d need to recharge as a Tesla owner. Los Angeles building permits have not yet revealed the date for the restaurant’s initial operation, but Tesla may have its eye on a target date that will likely be announced during next week’s Earnings Call.

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Tesla’s longer Model Y did not scale back requests for this vehicle type from fans

Tesla fans are happy with the new Model Y, but they’re still vocal about the need for something else.

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1 day ago

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July 17, 2025

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Credit: AlwinArt/Twitter

Tesla launched a slightly longer version of the Model Y all-electric crossover in China, and with it being extremely likely that the vehicle will make its way to other markets, including the United States, fans are still looking for something more.

The new Model Y L in China boasts a slightly larger wheelbase than its original version, giving slightly more interior room with a sixth seat, thanks to a third row.

Tesla exec hints at useful and potentially killer Model Y L feature

Tesla has said throughout the past year that it would focus on developing its affordable, compact models, which were set to begin production in the first half of the year. The company has not indicated whether it met that timeline or not, but many are hoping to see unveilings of those designs potentially during the Q3 earnings call.

However, the modifications to the Model Y, which have not yet been officially announced for any markets outside of China, still don’t seem to be what owners and fans are looking forward to. Instead, they are hoping for something larger.

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A few months ago, I reported on the overall consensus within the Tesla community that the company needs a full-size SUV, minivan, or even a cargo van that would be ideal for camping or business use.

Tesla is missing one type of vehicle in its lineup and fans want it fast

That mentality still seems very present amongst fans and owners, who state that a full-size SUV with enough seating for a larger family, more capability in terms of cargo space for camping or business operation, and something to compete with gas cars like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, or electric ones like the Volkswagen ID.BUZZ.

We asked the question on X, and Tesla fans were nearly unanimously in support of a larger SUV or minivan-type vehicle for the company’s lineup:

Here’s what some of the respondents said:

Tesla is certainly aware that many of its owners would like the company to develop something larger that competes with the large SUVs on the market.

However, it has not stated that anything like that is in the current plans for future vehicles, as it has made a concerted effort to develop Robotaxi alongside the affordable, compact models that it claims are in development.

It has already unveiled the Robovan, a people-mover that can seat up to 20 passengers in a lounge-like interior.

The Robovan will be completely driverless, so it’s unlikely we will see it before the release of a fully autonomous Full Self-Driving suite from Tesla.

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Tesla launches first Virtual Power Plant in UK – get paid to use solar

Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom.

Published

1 day ago

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July 17, 2025

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Credit: Tesla Energy | X

Tesla has launched its first-ever Virtual Power Plant program in the United Kingdom. This feature enables users of solar panels and energy storage systems to sell their excess energy back to the grid.

Tesla is utilizing Octopus Energy, a British renewable energy company that operates in multiple markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as the provider for the VPP launch in the region.

The company states that those who enroll in the program can earn up to £300 per month.

Tesla has operated several VPP programs worldwide, most notably in California, Texas, Connecticut, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. This is not the first time Tesla has operated a VPP outside the United States, as there are programs in Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.

This is its first in the UK:

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Tesla is not the only company that is working with Octopus Energy in the UK for the VPP, as it joins SolarEdge, GivEnergy, and Enphase as other companies that utilize the Octopus platform for their project operations.

It has been six years since Tesla launched its first VPP, as it started its first in Australia back in 2019. In 2024, Tesla paid out over $10 million to those participating in the program.

Tesla VPP program in California hits new capacity milestone

Participating in the VPP program that Tesla offers not only provides enrolled individuals with the opportunity to earn money, but it also contributes to grid stabilization by supporting local energy grids.

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