Investor's Corner
Inside Tesla’s ‘tent’-based Model 3 line that set a path to profitability
Tesla attracted more headlines than usual when Elon Musk announced on Twitter that the company is introducing a new Model 3 assembly line inside a sprung structure on the grounds of the Fremont factory. Casually dubbed by Elon Musk as a “tent,” the assembly line, dubbed GA4, played a huge part in pushing Tesla towards profitability in the third quarter.
Tesla’s “tent”-based Model 3 assembly line was featured in Elon Musk’s recent segment on CBS’ 60 Minutes. While speaking with correspondent Leslie Stahl, Musk remarked that the assembly line, which took only three weeks to set up, was responsible for boosting Model 3 production by 50%. That was enough to push the company to reach its self-imposed 5,000 Model 3 per week target in the second quarter.
Elon Musk has noted that Tesla is now at a point when it could produce 5,000 Model 3 per week without any problems. Before the company reached this point, though, it had to pass through a period that Musk personally described as “production hell.” During the second quarter, Tesla struggled to ramp Model 3 output using the vehicle’s two assembly lines inside the Fremont factory itself. When it was evident that this could not be achieved, Tesla did the unexpected — it built a third Model 3 line (GA4) to augment its output.
The construction of the “tent”-based line was lauded by the company’s supporters and criticized heavily by Tesla’s skeptics. Inasmuch as the sprung structure was controversial, though, it worked, and it ultimately helped Tesla address the Model 3’s production problems then. When he announced the promotion of Jerome Guillen as Tesla’s new President of Automotive, Musk stated that GA4 was the brainchild of the longtime problem-solver, who was working as the lead of the Tesla Semi program then. Considering how much GA4 helped Tesla reach its production goals, it is not difficult to speculate that the construction of GA4 was one of the reasons behind Jerome Guillen’s promotion to President of Automotive.
CBS correspondent Leslie Stahl noted during the recent 60 Minutes segment that the “tent”-based Model 3 line, contrary to Elon Musk’s initial plans for a fully-automated car factory, is currently filled with human workers. Musk noted during the segment that “People are way better at dealing with unexpected circumstances than robots,” while sharing a laugh with some workers assembling the Model 3.
Speaking with investors back in 2016, Elon Musk noted that Tesla’s electric car factories will be a “machine that builds the machine.” Musk even shared that the codename for the project is “Alien Dreadnought” — a reference to the hyper-advanced extraterrestrial crafts featured in sci-fi films and literature. The CEO initially estimated the dreadnought to be operational by the end of 2018, though the “production hell” that ensued during the Model 3 ramp forced Elon Musk to admit that over-automation was a mistake. Admitting his miscalculation on Twitter, Musk humbly noted that “humans are underrated.”
If there is one lesson that Tesla learned this year, it is that unorthodox solutions such as its “tent”-based Model 3 line — while a step away from Elon Musk’s original vision — are needed for the company to hit its goals. Using a makeshift production line that’s populated with human workers might not be part of Elon Musk’s “Alien Dreadnought,” but it was exactly what Tesla needed to push towards its manufacturing targets. If any, Tesla’s stellar performance in the third quarter, when it surprised Wall Street and skeptics by posting $6.8 billion in revenue, was made possible in no small part by the “tent”-based Model 3 assembly line.
Ultimately, GA4 could serve as a template for the company’s upcoming electric car production facilities, particularly as Tesla is currently setting the stage for Gigafactory 3, which would produce the Model 3 and Model Y for the local Chinese market. Gigafactory 3 is in an extremely aggressive timetable — one which Wall Street even dubbed as “not feasible.” If Tesla can maintain its open-mindedness and its tendency to adopt out-of-the-box solutions, though, even ambitious projects such as Gigafactory 3 would be more than feasible.
Watch 60 Minutes‘ segment on Tesla’s “tent”-based Model 3 assembly line in the video below.
Investor's Corner
Stifel raises Tesla price target by 9.8% over FSD, Robotaxi advancements
Stifel also maintained a “Buy” rating for the electric vehicle maker.
Investment firm Stifel has raised its price target for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares to $483 from $440 over increased confidence in the company’s self-driving and Robotaxi programs. The new price target suggests an 11.5% upside from Tesla’s closing price on Tuesday.
Stifel also maintained a “Buy” rating despite acknowledging that Tesla’s timeline for fully unsupervised driving may be ambitious.
Building confidence
In a note to clients, Stifel stated that it believes “Tesla is making progress with modest advancements in its Robotaxi network and FSD,” as noted in a report from Investing.com. The firm expects unsupervised FSD to become available for personal use in the U.S. by the end of 2025, with a wider ride-hailing rollout potentially covering half of the U.S. population by year-end.
Stifel also noted that Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet could expand from “tiny to gigantic” within a short time frame, possibly making a material financial impact to the company by late 2026. The firm views Tesla’s vision-based approach to autonomy as central to this long-term growth, suggesting that continued advancements could unlock new revenue streams across both consumer and mobility sectors.
Tesla’s FSD goals still ambitious
While Stifel’s tone remains optimistic, the firm’s analysts acknowledged that Tesla’s aggressive autonomy timeline may face execution challenges. The note described the 2025 unsupervised FSD target as “a stretch,” though still achievable in the medium term.
“We believe Tesla is making progress with modest advancements in its Robotaxi network and FSD. The company has high expectations for its camera-based approach including; 1) Unsupervised FSD to be available for personal use in the United States by year-end 2025, which appears to be a stretch but seems more likely in the medium term; 2) that it will ‘probably have ride hailing in probably half of the populations of the U.S. by the end of the year’,” the firm noted.
Investor's Corner
Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirms bullish view on Tesla after record Q3 deliveries
The firm reiterated its Overweight rating and $355 price target.
Cantor Fitzgerald is maintaining its bullish outlook on Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) following the company’s record-breaking third quarter of 2025.
The firm reiterated its Overweight rating and $355 price target, citing strong delivery results driven by a rush of consumer purchases ahead of the end of the federal tax credit on September 30.
On Tesla’s vehicle deliveries in Q3 2025
During the third quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered a total of 497,099 vehicles, significantly beating analyst expectations of 443,079 vehicles. As per Cantor Fitzgerald, this was likely affected by customers rushing at the end of Q3 to purchase an EV due to the end of the federal tax credit, as noted in an Investing.com report.
“On 10/2, TSLA pre-announced that it delivered 497,099 vehicles in 3Q25 (its highest quarterly delivery in company history), significantly above Company consensus of 443,079, and above 384,122 in 2Q25. This was due primarily to a ‘push forward effect’ from consumers who rushed to purchase or lease EVs ahead of the $7,500 EV tax credit expiring on 9/30,” the firm wrote in its note.
A bright spot in Tesla Energy
Cantor Fitzgerald also highlighted that while Tesla’s full-year production and deliveries would likely fall short of 2024’s 1.8 million total, Tesla’s energy storage business remains a bright spot in the company’s results.
“Tesla also announced that it had deployed 12.5 GWh of energy storage products in 3Q25, its highest in company history vs. our estimate/Visible Alpha consensus of 11.5/10.9 GWh (and vs. ~6.9 GWh in 3Q24). Tesla’s Energy Storage has now deployed more products YTD than all of last year, which is encouraging. We expect Energy Storage revenue to surpass $12B this year, and to account for ~15% of total revenue,” the firm stated.
Tesla’s strong Q3 results have helped lift its market capitalization to $1.47 trillion as of writing. The company also teased a new product reveal on X set for October 7, which the firm stated could serve as another near-term catalyst.
Tesla stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) just got a weird price target boost from a notable bear just a day after it announced its strongest quarter in terms of vehicle deliveries and energy deployments.
JPMorgan raised its price target on Tesla shares from $115 to $150. It maintained its ‘Underweight’ rating on the stock.
Despite Tesla reporting 497,099 deliveries, about 12 percent above the 443,000 anticipated from the consensus, JPMorgan is still skeptical that the company can keep up its momentum, stating most of its Q3 strength came from leaning on the removal of the $7,500 EV tax credit, which expired on September 30.
Tesla hits record vehicle deliveries and energy deployments in Q3 2025
The firm said Tesla benefited from a “temporary stronger-than-expected industry-wide pull-forward” as the tax credit expired. It is no secret that consumers flocked to the company this past quarter to take advantage of the credit.
The bump will need to be solidified as the start of a continuing trend of strong vehicle deliveries, the firm said in a note to investors. Analysts said that one quarter of strength was “too soon to declare Tesla as having sustainably returned to growth in its core business.”
JPMorgan does not anticipate Tesla having strong showings with vehicle deliveries after Q4.
There are two distinct things that stick out with this note: the first is the lack of recognition of other parts of Tesla’s business, and the confusion that surrounds future quarters.
JPMorgan did not identify Tesla’s strength in autonomy, energy storage, or robotics, with autonomy and robotics being the main focuses of the company’s future. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Robotaxi efforts are incredibly relevant and drive more impact moving forward than vehicle deliveries.
Additionally, the confusion surrounding future delivery numbers in quarters past Q3 is evident.
Will Tesla thrive without the EV tax credit? Five reasons why they might
Tesla will receive some assistance from deliveries of vehicles that will reach customers in Q4, but will still qualify for the credit under the IRS’s revised rules. It will also likely introduce an affordable model this quarter, which should have a drastic impact on deliveries depending on pricing.
Tesla shares are trading at $422.40 at 2:35 p.m. on the East Coast.
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