News
Tesla China momentum ‘a positive’ as company navigates new competition
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) had a strong showing in China in May, giving Deutsche Bank a reason to call the company’s performance “a positive” for the company moving forward. However, the Wall Street-based firm has convictions about Tesla’s performance moving forward, according to a new note to investors, as the company will likely face some pushback from Government action and new, local competition.
Figures from the Chinese Passenger Car Association (CPCA) revealed a strong performance in May for Tesla. The Model Y all-electric crossover led the charge ahead of its sibling Model 3 sedan. The numbers catalyzed a sigh of relief from Tesla investors, especially those who read The Information’s report claiming orders had halved to below 10,000 units collectively in China in May. The report was met with criticism and skepticism, including some words from CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu, who claimed that May orders wouldn’t have affected May sales figures. Dongshu was correct, as CPCA figures indicated a 29% increase in sales in May compared to April.
The CPCA figures alleviated many concerns, especially those of Deutsche Bank analysts, who revealed in a new note to investors this morning that the strong figures showed healthy demand in both China and Europe, along with hints that Tesla sold its entire Model 3 production capacity in the last two months.
Tesla China sales rise 30% in May, definitively debunks reports of weak demand
The note said (via David Tayar):
“We view May’s data as a positive for Tesla, not only disproving concerns around collapse in demand, but also showing that between local retail sales and exports, Tesla essentially sold its entire Model 3 production capacity in both April and May, and Model Y is ramping up fast in China.”
Deutsche Bank on Tesla/China ??
“We view May’s data as a positive for Tesla, not only disproving concerns around collapse in demand, but also showing that between local retail sales an exports, Tesla essentially sold its entire M3 production capacity in both April/May.”$TSLA pic.twitter.com/o0FMnw0uBG
— David Tayar (@davidtayar5) June 10, 2021
While The Information’s report attributed the weak order figures to “public outcry and government criticism,” Tesla is likely not facing too much of an issue with these two theories, at least for now. However, Deutsche Bank’s note also detailed some concerns that investors may have in the long-term spectacle of Tesla’s Chinese demand.
The firm wrote in its note:
“At the same time, it is unlikely completely eliminate investor concerns that consumer sentiment around Tesla could be losing momentum in China, partly as a result of government action, but also with the rise of local competition. In fact, the article from the Information was supposedly about new orders, rather than sales, so any weakness wouldn’t necessarily have been seen in May sales yet.”
Interestingly, this aligns with Dongshu’s comments about the Information’s report, where the CPCA executive said:
“Usually, monthly sales are accumulated units of orders over previous months, so the immediate results in May might not truly reflect whether the recently reported accidents have had any real impact on Tesla’s sales.”
Tesla has continued a tradition of being one of the most popular automakers in China since its introduction in the market in early 2020. Tesla was the most popular manufacturer in China in 2020, and the only car that has managed to outsell the Model 3 and Model Y is the Wuling HongGuang Mini EV that sells for only $5,000.
Disclosure: Joey Klender is a TSLA Shareholder
News
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the vehicle being reported across social media this week.
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the autonomous two-seater being reported across social media this week. Based on videos of the vehicle that have been shared online, it appears that Cybercab tests are underway across multiple states.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Reports of Cybercab tests have ramped this week, with a vehicle that looked like a production-ready prototype being spotted at Apple’s Visitor Center in California. The vehicle in this sighting was interesting as it was equipped with a steering wheel. The vehicle also featured some changes to the design of its brake lights.
The Cybercab was also filmed testing at the Fremont factory’s test track, which also seemed to involve a vehicle that looked production-ready. This also seemed to be the case for a Cybercab that was spotted in Austin, Texas, which happened to be undergoing real-world tests. Overall, these sightings suggest that Cybercab testing is fully underway, and the vehicle is really moving towards production.
Production design all but finalized?
Recently, a near-production-ready Cybercab was showcased at Tesla’s Santana Row showroom in San Jose. The vehicle was equipped with frameless windows, dual windshield wipers, powered butterfly door struts, an extended front splitter, an updated lightbar, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. Interior updates include redesigned dash/door panels, refined seats with center cupholders, updated carpet, and what appeared to be improved legroom.
There seems to be a pretty good chance that the Cybercab’s design has been all but finalized, at least considering Elon Musk’s comments at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk confirmed that the vehicle will enter production around April 2026, and its production targets will be quite ambitious.
News
Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Swedish union Vision has withdrawn its sympathy blockade against Tesla’s planned service center and showroom in Kalmar. As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Vision’s decision to pull the blockade
Vision announced the blockade in early December, stating that it was targeting the administrative handling of Tesla’s facility permits in Kalmar municipality. The sympathy measure was expected to start Monday, but was formally withdrawn via documents sent to the Mediation Institute and Kalmar Municipality last week.
As noted in a Daggers Arbete report, plans for the strike were ultimately pulled after employer group SKR highlighted potential illegality under the Public Employment Act. Vision stressed its continued backing for the Swedish labor model, though Deputy negotiation manager Oskar Pettersson explained that the Vision union and IF Metall made the decision to cancel the planned strike together.
“We will not continue to challenge the regulations,” Petterson said. “The objection was of a technical nature. We made the assessment together with IF Metall that we were not in a position to challenge the legal assessment of whether we could take this particular action against Tesla. Therefore, we chose to revoke the notice itself.”
The SKR’s warning
Petterson also stated that SKR’s technical objection to the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla strike framed the protest as an unauthorized act. “It was a legal assessment of the situation. Both for us and for IF Metall, it is important to be clear that we stand for the Swedish model. But we should not continue to challenge the regulations and risk getting judgments that lead nowhere in the application of the regulations,” he said.
Vision ultimately canceled its planned blockade against Tesla on December 9. With Vision’s withdrawal, few obstacles remain for Tesla’s long-planned Kalmar site. A foreign electrical firm completed work this fall, and Tesla’s Careers page currently lists a full-time service manager position based there, signaling an imminent opening.
Tesla Semi Program Director Dan Priestly teased the major improvements to the all-electric Class 8 truck on Thursday night, following the company’s decision to overhaul the design earlier this year.
Priestley said he drove the Semi on Thursday, and the improvements appear to be welcomed by one of the minds behind the project. “Our customers are going to love it,” he concluded.
Just drove the redesigned Semi. Our customers are going to love it. https://t.co/KZ88sf1CDL
— Dan Priestley (@danWpriestley) December 19, 2025
The small detail does not seem like much, but it is coming from someone who has been involved in the development of the truck from A to Z. Priestley has been involved in the Semi program since November 2015 and has slowly worked his way through the ranks, and currently stands as the Director of the program.
Tesla Semi undergoes major redesign as dedicated factory preps for deliveries
Tesla made some major changes to the Semi design as it announced at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting that it changed the look and design to welcome improvements in efficiency.
Initially, Tesla adopted the blade-like light bar for the Semi, similar to the one that is present on the Model Y Premium and the Cybertruck.
Additionally, there are some slight aesthetic changes to help with efficiency, including a redesigned bumper with improved aero channels, a smaller wraparound windshield, and a smoother roofline for better aero performance.
All of these changes came as the company’s Semi Factory, which is located on Gigafactory Nevada’s property, was finishing up construction in preparation for initial production phases, as Tesla is planning to ramp up manufacturing next year. CEO Elon Musk has said the Semi has attracted “ridiculous demand.”
The Semi has already gathered many large companies that have signed up to buy units, including Frito-Lay and PepsiCo., which have been helping Tesla test the vehicle in a pilot program to test range, efficiency, and other important metrics that will be a major selling point.
Tesla will be the Semi’s first user, though, and the truck will help solve some of the company’s logistics needs in the coming years.
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
