Hyundai Motor Co. has decided to invest more in its upcoming Georgia plant to produce hybrids amidst the slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
Hyundai’s Georgia Metaplant was supposed to be a dedicated factory for EV production. However, Hyundai and a few more legacy automakers have mentioned a slowing demand for electric vehicles and have turned to hybrid production to recover losses.
Earlier this month, the South Korean automaker was considering hybrid production at its upcoming Georgia plant. During its recent Q1 2024 earnings Call, Hyundai officially pulled the trigger on hybrid production in Georgia.
In the first quarter, Hyundai Motor reported an operating profit of over 3.5 trillion won (US$2.5 billion), and sales reached a record high of over 40 trillion won (US$29 billion).
“There was a big decline in EV sales, but those of hybrids — a high-margin product—contributed to the high profitability,” explained Hyundai’s CFO Seung Jo Lee.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 4.5% of its total shipment in the first quarter, down 6.5% from a year ago. Meanwhile, Hyundai reported seeing its hybrid sales increase by nearly 17% year-over-year to almost 98,000 units. The South Korean automaker sold approximately 947,000 units in the first quarter, down 4% year-over-year.
Hyundai isn’t the only legacy automaker turning to hybrids while EV demand slows. Ford postponed EV launches to focus on hybrid production. Earlier this year, General Motors CEO Mary Barra talked about bringing the company’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to North America.
Tesla has also acknowledged a slump in EV demand. During its recent earnings call, however, Tesla reiterated its stance that EVs are the future of the automobile industry.
If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via X @Writer_01001101.
News
Tesla announces massive new achievement with 8 million cars produced
Tesla’s 8 millionth car comes just 8 months after it built its 7 millionth car.

Tesla announced a massive new achievement in relation to its automotive division as it has officially built 8 million cars globally.
The 8 millionth car rolled off production lines at Gigafactory Berlin on Friday, the company announced. The car was an Ultra Red Model Y, images show:
Produced our 8 millionth vehicle at Giga Berlin pic.twitter.com/gv1moWhwTH
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 6, 2025
The car comes just about eight months after Tesla built its 7 millionth car at the Fremont Factory last October, a major accomplishment considering the claims of a lack of demand from the media.
Additionally, Tesla was able to achieve this major threshold with a stoppage in production at each of its four production facilities earlier this year. The manufacturing halt was attributed to a production line changeover for the new Model Y crossover.
The car has been the best-selling vehicle in the world for two consecutive years, and the company pausing production for two weeks, yet still managed to produce one million cars in eight months is impressive.
Tesla currently only produces the Model Y at Gigafactory Berlin, but the car is also manufactured at Gigafactory Shanghai, Gigafactory Texas, and the Fremont Factory.
It is the only model to be produced at all four of Tesla’s global manufacturing plants, which span across three different continents.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk and Donald Trump to speak with each other Friday: report
White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s feud seems to be thawing, at least to some degree.
As per a recent Politico report, White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.
Musk vs. Trump
Musk turned into a staunch critic of Trump amidst the administration’s efforts to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which the CEO claimed would add trillions to the country’s deficit. Trump, for his part, claimed that Musk turned on him due to the adverse effects of the proposed bill on his companies.
The spat between the two powerful men became so notable that Musk called for the impeachment of Trump on X. He also claimed that Trump was in the Epstein list. The U.S. President, for his part, threatened to cancel billions of dollars worth of government contracts with Musk’s companies such as SpaceX.
Potential Truce
As per Politico, however, White House aides have stepped in to temper the tensions and broker peace between the two powerful men. When asked by the outlet about his ongoing feud with the CEO, Trump reportedly stated that “it’s okay” and that “it’s going very well, never done better.” The U.S. President also highlighted his favorability ratings, stating that his “numbers are through the roof.”
While the CEO was very aggressive against Trump in his X posts, he did back down somewhat after some time. When hedge fund manager Bill Ackman argued that Trump and Musk should make peace for the benefit of the United States, the CEO responded with, “You’re not wrong.” Musk also walked back on his decision to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which is essential to NASA’s operations.
Investor's Corner
Goldman Sachs reduces Tesla price target to $285
Despite Goldman Sach’s NASDAQ: TSLA price cut to $285, Tesla boasts $95.7B in revenue & nearly $1T market cap.

Goldman Sachs analysts cut Tesla’s price target to $285 from $295, maintaining a Neutral rating.
The adjustment reflects weaker sales performance across key markets, with Tesla shares trading at $284.70, down nearly 18% in the past week. The analysts pointed to declining sales data in the United States, Europe, and China as the primary driver for the revised outlook. In the U.S., Tesla’s quarter-to-date deliveries through May fell mid-teens year-over-year, according to Wards and Motor Intelligence.
In Europe, April registrations plummeted 50% year-over-year, with May showing a mid-20% decline, per industry data. Meanwhile, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported a 20% year-over-year drop in May, despite a 5.5% sequential increase from April. Consumer surveys from HundredX and Morning Consult also shaped Goldman Sachs’ lowered delivery and EPS forecasts.
Goldman Sachs now projects Tesla’s second-quarter deliveries to range between 335,000 and 395,000 vehicles, with a base case of 365,000, down from a prior estimate of 410,000 and below the Visible Alpha Consensus of 417,000. Despite these headwinds, Tesla’s financials remain strong, with $95.7 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue and a $917 billion market capitalization.
Regionally, Tesla’s challenges are stark. In Germany, the German road traffic agency KBA reported Tesla’s May sales dropped 36.2% year-over-year, despite a 44.9% surge in overall electric vehicle registrations. Tesla’s sales fell 29% last month in Spain, according to the ANFAC industry group. These declines highlight shifting consumer preferences amid growing competition.
On a positive note, Tesla is making strategic moves. The Model 3 and Model Y are part of a Chinese government campaign to boost rural sales, potentially mitigating losses. Piper Sandler analysts reiterated an Overweight rating, emphasizing Tesla’s supply chain strategy.
Alexander Potter stated, “Thanks to vertical integration, Tesla is the only car company that is trying to source batteries, at scale, without relying on China.”
As Tesla navigates these delivery challenges, its focus on innovation and supply chain resilience could help it maintain its edge in the electric vehicle market despite short-term hurdles.
-
News6 days ago
Tesla to lose 64 Superchargers on New Jersey Turnpike in controversial decision
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla’s new Model S and X spotted, but they leave a lot to be desired
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
How Tesla could benefit from the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that axes EV subsidies
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Tesla set for ‘golden age of autonomous’ as Robotaxi nears, ‘dark chapter’ ends: Wedbush
-
News1 week ago
Tesla gets major upgrade that Apple users will absolutely love
-
News2 weeks ago
‘Tesla tax’ could be no more in United Kingdom
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
SpaceX Starship gets FAA nod for ninth test flight
-
News2 weeks ago
Hyundai begins real-world testing of AI-powered EV charging robot