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Tesla nears $100 billion market cap, closes in on Volkswagen as 2nd most valuable automaker in world

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Tesla quietly crept up the $100 billion market capitalization mark in extended trading hours on Tuesday. Tesla stock was pegged at $547.20 at the end of the trading day but saw an increase to $555 in after-hours trading, pushing the all-electric carmaker’s valuation to $100 billion.

This further widens Tesla’s lead as the most valuable automaker in the US. It also puts the Elon Musk-led electric car company close to dethroning Volkswagen ($100.59 billion) as the second most valuable car company in the world. Toyota currently holds the title as the world’s most valuable automaker at $232 billion.

The highly anticipated jump into the $100 billion threshold comes as Tesla shares soared more than 7 percent on Tuesday, following one analyst’s bullish predictions.

In a note to investors, New Street analyst Pierre Ferragu raised his 12-month price target to $800, up from an initial target of $530.

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The analyst believes Tesla will be able to deliver 2 to 3 million cars annually by 2025 and anticipates “industry-leading margins” that will raise stock prices to $1,100 to $1,700 per share and propel Tesla’s market cap to $250 to $530 billion.

Most valuable automaker in the US

Tesla crossing the $100 billion barrier is the latest in a series of financial gains for the carmaker. It follows last week’s record-breaking achievement as Tesla surged past Ford’s record $81 billion valuation in 1999.

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Although the numbers do not account for inflation and debt, this remains an impressive feat for Elon Musk, who led the company from its early days in 2003 to become the arguably most disruptive company in automotive history. Investors who have stayed with the carmaker since its initial public offering in 2010 have seen their investments increase by 1,100 percent.

Currently, Tesla’s valuation is near the value of the Big Three combined: Ford at $36.64 billion, General Motors at $49.99 billion, and Fiat-Chrysler at $21.38 billion.

Continued growth leading to gains

The most recent win comes hot on the heels of Tesla’s debut of the Made-in-China Model 3. Musk himself flew to Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China to personally deliver the first locally made Model 3 to the first Chinese customers. He also formally announced a Model Y program in the country.

Gigafactory 4 is also poised to rise in Brandenburg, Germany. Tesla recently announced its board of directors has approved the purchase contract for a 300-hectare property in Grunheide that will serve as the site for its fourth electric vehicle factory.

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Tesla’s Q4 2019 report also spiked investor optimism as the company announced it has delivered 119,000 vehicles from October to December last year. This boosts Tesla’s annual deliveries to 367,500 vehicles in 2019, up by more than 50 percent from 2018.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year

“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.

Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.

“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.

Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.

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Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.

Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.

The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets. 

Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.

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Elon Musk

Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after

“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.

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Credit: Cybercab

Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk. 

During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.

“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.

Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.

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The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run. 

Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually. 

Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.

Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.

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Energy

Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia

Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.

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Credit: Tesla

Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.

Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.

“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.

“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”

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Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.

“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”

Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.

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