

News
Tesla’s lead in EVs needs to be answered by Detroit: “The time has come to show it!”
Tesla is slaying its competitors, and Phil LeBeau is telling other automakers to show what they’re made of, or stop trying to match the electric automaker’s technology and design.
Tesla is stealing the thunder of its combustion-based competitors as consumers are vying to buy electric vehicles instead of petrol-powered machines.
While legacy automakers are attempting to match Tesla’s design, technology, and performance, they continuously come up short. No car company has been able to solve the puzzle that Tesla has completed, which is to create an affordable electric car that offers both acceptable range and impressive performance. Tesla has been able to do it multiple times with several vehicles.
On an episode of Squawk Box on CNBC, Phil LeBeau gave a blunt review of what the automotive industry is doing wrong, and what they should attempt to do in the future if they plan to compete with Tesla.
“They know that they have to catch Tesla in terms of technology and in terms of the styling of the vehicle that they bring out,” LeBeau said. “For years, they have sat there and said, ‘Trust us. We’re going to come out with these vehicles.’ Well, so far, they have swung and missed, repeatedly.”
Unfortunately for the automakers who have attempted to compete with Tesla’s infrastructure, LeBeau is right. Nobody has been able to replicate or even come close to competing with Tesla’s electric vehicles. No company has been able to create a high-performance, extended-range electric car that is available at an affordable price point. Tesla is the only one.
“It is time for them to either step up or stop talking. And we’re going to find out with the GM Hummer, we’re going to find out with the electric pickup trucks coming from GM and Ford, and the other automakers,” LeBeau added.
The issue for other automakers comes down to batteries and the overall focus of their business model. While Tesla works only on electric cars, other automakers are splitting their time between more environmentally-friendly combustion vehicles and battery-electric machines.
The development of batteries is a central focus of creating an electric car that is worth a consumer’s time and money.
Instead of trying to match Tesla’s advancements in battery tech and performance specifications, automakers have been attempting to match the minimalistic design that the automaker has implemented across its vehicle fleet.
Interestingly enough, some companies continue to claim they are close to dethroning Tesla from its ranks as the leader in EV tech. GM claimed in May that it was close to a million-mile battery pack, but the details have not yet been released to the public.
Meanwhile, other car companies are singing a different tune. Volkswagen, for example, has mentioned on several occasions that Tesla holds a significant lead of 10 years in the race for the best electric car.
Either way, there are issues with the approach that other automakers are taking. Companies continue to make their primary focus combustion engines instead of attempting to increase the research and development of its future electric fleet.
“They’re saying we’ve got great tech. Show it! The time has come to show it!”
The full Squawk Box interview featuring Phil LeBeau is available below.
News
Tesla Giga Berlin makes big move amid strong sales and demand
“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards.”

Tesla is making a big move at its factory in Germany, known as Giga Berlin, as managers at the plant have indicated the company plans to increase its production rate for the remainder of the year.
Giga Berlin is responsible for manufacturing Model Y vehicles for several markets worldwide, including those outside of Europe. It was opened in March 2022, and it recently built its 500,000th Model Y in March and its 100,000th new Model Y just three weeks ago.
Due to some encouraging sales figures in the markets it provides vehicles for, Tesla said it is planning to increase production at the factory for the remainder of the year.
Andrè Thierig, plant manager at Giga Berlin, said to German news outlet DPA on Sunday that market data has encouraged a move to be made regarding the production at the factory:
“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards.”
It is interesting to see this kind of narrative from Thierig, especially as data has shown Tesla has struggled in various markets, including Germany, this year.
Sales drops have been reported, but other markets are holding strong, especially those in Northern Europe, such as Norway, where the Model Y saw a nearly 39 percent increase in sales in August compared to the same month the previous year.
Gigafactory Berlin supplies vehicles for other markets, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are strategically important to avoid tariffs. It also builds cars for the Middle East.
Thierig reiterated this point during the interview with DPA:
“We supply well over 30 markets and definitely see a positive trend there.”
Elon Musk
Tesla analyst says Musk stock buy should send this signal to investors
“With Musk’s (Tesla stock) purchase, combined with the upward momentum for delivery expectations and robotaxi rollout, we are becoming more bullish.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk purchased roughly $1 billion in Tesla shares on Friday, and analysts are now breaking down the move as the stock is headed upward.
One of them is William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer, who said in a new note to investors on Monday that Musk’s move should send a signal of confidence to stock buyers, especially considering the company’s numerous catalysts that currently exist.
Elon Musk just bought $1 billion in Tesla stock, his biggest purchase ever
Dorsheimer said in the note:
“With Musk’s (Tesla stock) purchase, combined with the upward momentum for delivery expectations and robotaxi rollout, we are becoming more bullish. This purchase is Musk’s first buy since 2020. To us, this sends a strong signal of confidence in the most important part of Tesla’s future business, robotaxi.”
Musk putting an additional $1 billion back into the company in the form of more stock ownership is obviously a huge vote of confidence.
He knows more than anyone about the progress Tesla has made and is making on the Robotaxi platform, as well as the company’s ongoing efforts to solve vehicle autonomy. If he’s buying stock, it is more than likely a good sign.
Tesla has continued to expand its Robotaxi platform in a number of ways. The project has gotten bigger in terms of service area, vehicle fleet, and testing population. Tesla has also recently received a permit to test in Nevada, unlocking the potential to expand into a brand-new state for the company.
In the note, Dorsheimer also touched on Musk’s recent pay package, revealing that William Blair recently met with Tesla’s Board of Directors, who gave the firm some more color on the situation:
“We recently participated in a meeting with Tesla’s board of directors to discuss the details of Musk’s performance package. The board is confident of its position in the Delaware case and anticipates a verdict by end of year. It does not expect a similar situation to occur under new Texas jurisdiction. Musk has the board’s full support, and we expect he’ll get more than enough shareholder support for this to pass with flying colors.”
Tesla stock is up over 6 percent so far today, trading at $421.50 at the time of publication.
News
Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas dubs Tesla FSD a “game changer” after marathon drive
Jonas reported that FSD handled more than 99% of the miles.

Morgan Stanley’s analyst Adam Jonas shared a notable endorsement of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after completing a 1,400-mile round trip from New York to Michigan in his Model Y.
Jonas reported that FSD handled more than 99% of the miles, calling the system “a game changer” for long-distance driving.
Hands-free experience
Jonas drove his 2021 Tesla Model Y equipped with Hardware 3 and FSD Supervised v12.6.4, and he used the system nearly the entire trip. “Having your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals for nearly 12 hours of driving is a real game changer that is hard to appreciate without experiencing it for yourself,” he noted.
He explained that outside of two heavy downpours, one on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and another in suburban Detroit, plus some light maneuvering in fast food parking lots, FSD handled the drive without any human intervention. “FSD made no mistakes or close calls that I recall. The system handles highways very safely and confidently. I cannot imagine buying another EV without FSD.”
Broader implications
Jonas added that he has used FSD consistently over the past 18 months, and the $8,000 he paid for the feature feels like a bargain considering the value. He also praised Tesla’s Supercharging network, which supported his trip without issue.
Jonas has been one of Wall Street’s most closely followed voices on Tesla, and his comments add weight to the ongoing debate about the role of autonomy in the company’s future. His current price target for Tesla stock stands at $410. During Morgan Stanley’s 13th Annual Laguna Conference, he echoed similar experiences with Tesla’s software, emphasizing that FSD “probably drove well over 99% of the miles” on his recent trips.
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