

Investor's Corner
Tesla registers more than 6k new Model 3 VINs, estimated ~100% dual motor AWD
Tesla recently registered a large batch of 6,032 new Model 3 VINs, with almost all of the filings corresponding to the Dual Motor AWD variant of the compact electric car. The new vehicle identification registrations come at a time when Tesla is actively pushing its deliveries for the Model 3.
The new batch of Model 3 Dual Motor AWD VINs was reported by Twitter watchdog group @Model3VINs, which tracks Tesla’s registrations for the vehicle. According to the group, Tesla’s recent filing — which numbers 6,032 new VINs that are estimated to be ~100% Dual Motor AWD — has brought the company’s total number of Model 3 registrations to 69,601 units.
#Tesla registered 6,032 new #Model3 VINs. ~100% estimated to be dual motor. Highest VIN is 69601. https://t.co/rVcbmKt2r0
— Model 3 VINs (@Model3VINs) July 11, 2018
This recent filing stands as yet another sign that Tesla is well on its way to sustaining its production rate of 5,000 Model 3 per week this third quarter. The production milestone was finally attained by the company during the final week of June, but it did not escape criticism from the company’s doubters, some of whom predicted that the Model 3’s 5,000/week “burst” production would be unsustainable. These doubts, together with lower than expected Model 3 deliveries revealed in Tesla’s Q2 2018 delivery and production report, ultimately caused the company’s stocks to tumble last week.
Since then, however, signs have emerged pointing to the idea that Tesla would be able to sustain its 5,000/week production rate for the Model 3 this third quarter. Just recently, reports emerged from the Tesla community that the company had rolled out configurator emails to all Model 3 reservation holders. This was followed by an encouraging trend displayed by Bloomberg‘s Model 3 production tracker, which currently forecasts that Tesla would be able to sustain its “burst” production rate of 5,000 vehicles per week for the next three weeks. Bloomberg‘s Model 3 production tracker has become more accurate over the past few months, with the system only being 2% off its estimates for Tesla’s Q2 figures for the compact electric car. With this in mind, there is a pretty fair chance of the tracker’s favorable forecast for Model 3 production would prove to be accurate.

Bloomberg’s Tesla Model 3 tracker as of 7/11/18. [Credit: Bloomberg]
Tesla has also started changing its strategy for the Model 3. Since the vehicle reservations exceeded the company’s estimates, Tesla has embarked on an initiative to anti-sell the compact electric car. CEO Elon Musk, for one, noted on Twitter that the Model 3, while newer than the Model S, is not a superior vehicle. Tesla’s official website also included a table comparing the Model S favorably to the Model 3, both in features and in availability. Despite this anti-selling, however, Model 3 reservations remained high, with Tesla most recently confirming that it still has a backlog of 420,000 orders for the electric car.
With the release of configurator emails for reservation holders and the rollout of programs such as test drives in selected stores, as well as a new 5-minute “Sign & Drive” delivery system, Tesla appears to have stopped anti-selling the Model 3. The Model 3, after all, would likely determine whether Tesla could achieve its target of becoming profitable this third or fourth quarter.
Overall, filings such as today’s batch of 6,032 new Model 3 Dual Motor AWD VINs are encouraging for Tesla. The company, after all, is only producing the Model 3 Performance with Dual Motor AWD for now. Among the Model 3’s variants, the Performance trim, which comes with Dual Motor AWD as default, features a healthy profit margin, with the vehicle starting at $64,000. With this in mind, this newest batch of Model 3 filings, provided that the cars do get delivered this third quarter, could definitely help Tesla’s profitability goals this Q3 2018.
Investor's Corner
Tesla welcomes Chipotle President Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors
Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.

Tesla has welcomed Chipotle president Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors. Hartung will officially start his tenure at the electric vehicle maker on June 1, 2025.
Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.
Jack Hartung’s Role
With Hartung’s addition, the Tesla Board will now have nine members. It’s been a while since the company added a new director. Prior to Hartung, the last addition to the Tesla Board was Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia back in 2022. As noted in a Reuters report, Hartung will serve on the Tesla Board’s audit committee. He will also retire from his position as president and chief strategy officer at Chipotle, and transition into a senior advisor’s role at the restaurant chain, next month.
Hartung has had a long career in the Mexican grill, joining Chipotle in 2002. He held several positions in the company, most recently serving as Chipotle’s President and Chief Strategy Officer. Tesla highlighted Hartung’s accomplishments in a post on its official account on X.
“Over the past 20+ years under Jack’s financial leadership, Chipotle has seen significant growth with over 3,700 restaurants today across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Jack was named ‘CFO of the Year’ by Orange County Business Journal and Best CFO in the restaurant category by Institutional Investor,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.
Tesla Board and Musk
Tesla is a controversial company with a controversial CEO, so it is no surprise that the Board of Directors tend to get flak as well. Two weeks ago, for example, Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm slammed The Wall Street Journal for publishing an article alleging that company directors had considered a search for a potential successor to Elon Musk. Denholm herself has also been criticized for offloading her TSLA shares.
More recently, news emerged suggesting that the Tesla Board of Directors had formed a special committee aimed at exploring a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk. The committee is reportedly comprised of Tesla board Chair Robyn Denholm and independent director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, and they would be exploring alternative compensation methods for Musk’s contributions to the company.
Investor's Corner
Rivian stock rises as analysts boost price targets post Q1 earnings
Rivian impressed with smaller-than-expected losses & strong revenue, pushing analysts to raise price targets.

Rivian stock is gaining traction as Wall Street analysts raise price targets following the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s first-quarter earnings report. Despite a dip after the announcement, optimism surrounds Rivian’s cost control and upcoming lower-priced cars.
Last week, Rivian reported a better-than-expected Q1 gross profit, surpassing Wall Street’s forecasts with adjusted losses of $0.48 per share against expectations of $0.92 per share. The company also reported a revenue of $1.24 billion compared to the $1.01 billion anticipated.
However, the EV automaker cut its 2025 delivery forecast and capital spending due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It explained that it is “not immune to the impacts of the global trade and economic environment.” RIVN stock dropped nearly 6% post-earnings, closing at $12.72 per share.
Wall Street remains upbeat about Rivian, citing progress toward launching lower-priced vehicles in 2026 and effective cost management. On Monday, Stifel analyst Stephen Gengaro raised his RIVN price target to $18 from $16, maintaining a “Buy” rating. He highlighted Rivian’s “solid progress” toward key milestones.
Conversely, Bernstein’s Daniel Roeska gave RIVN a “Sell” rating. However, Roeska also lifted his Rivian price target to $7.05 from $6.10, acknowledging “better” Q1 results. He warned that profitability remains distant and hinges on multiple product launches by the decade’s end.
Overall, Wall Street’s average price target for RIVN climbed from $14.18 to $14.31, a modest 13-cent increase reflecting positive sentiment. About one-third of analysts covering Rivian rate it a Buy, compared to the S&P 500’s average Buy-rating ratio of 55%.
On Monday, Rivian stock rose 2.7% to $14.64, slightly trailing the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively. The uptick may also stem from broader market gains tied to news of a temporary U.S.-China tariff suspension.
As Rivian navigates trade challenges and scales production at its Illinois factory, its Q1 performance and analyst support signal resilience. With lower-priced EVs on the horizon, Rivian’s strategic moves could bolster its position in the competitive EV market, offering investors cautious optimism for long-term growth.
Investor's Corner
Tesla (TSLA) poised to hit $1 trillion valuation again amid reports of Trump China deal
TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket.

Tesla shares (NASDAQ:TSLA) are on a tear on Monday’s premarket amidst reports that the United States and China have agreed to significantly roll back tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial 90-day period.
As of writing, the premarket price of TSLA shares suggests that the electric vehicle maker might end Monday with a $1 trillion valuation once more.
Tesla and China
TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket. As noted in a report from Barron’s, these prices suggest that the company could achieve a trillion-dollar valuation again, a level not seen since late February. Similar to Tesla, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were also up 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, on Monday’s premarket.
The United States and China’s decision to roll back its tariffs would likely be appreciated by CEO Elon Musk. Despite working for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and despite Tesla being least affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs due to its strong domestic supply chains in the United States, China, and Europe, Musk has noted that he is a supporter of non-predatory tariffs.
The United States and China’s Agreement
In a joint statement from the United States and China posted on the White House’s official website, the two countries agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs on each other by 115% for 90 days. This means that the United States will temporarily lower its overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, as noted in an ABC 12 report. China, on the other hand, will also lower its tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10%.
The talks were led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as per the joint statement. Bessent shared his thoughts about the matter in a comment in Geneva. “The consensus from both delegations is neither side wants to be decoupled, and what have occurred with these very high tariffs … was an equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade. We want more balance in trade. And I think both sides are committed to achieving that,” he said.
A spokesperson from China’s Commerce Ministry also shared a statement about the matter. As per the spokesperson, the deal was an “important step by both sides to resolve differences through equal-footing dialogue and consultation, laying the groundwork and creating conditions for further bridging gaps and deepening cooperation.”
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