Connect with us

Tesla Model 3

Tesla shares rise with optimistic $35K Model 3 outlook, $450 price target, and ‘Buy’ rating from Canaccord

Published

on

Tesla stock (NASDAQ:TSLA) received a notable vote of confidence this Monday, with investment firm Canaccord Genuity predicting a massive rally this year amidst the electric car maker’s efforts to close in on the production of the $35,000 Model 3. In its recent note, Canaccord upgraded TSLA from a hold to a buy rating. The company’s 12-month price target for the electric car maker was also raised from $330 to $450 per share, representing a 40% rally from TSLA’s closing price of $305.80 last Friday.

In a note to clients on Monday, Canaccord analyst Jed Dorsheimer stated that the Street appears to be underappreciating the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles on the auto market. The company also pointed out that it expects Tesla to run into fewer challenges this year.

“The EV penetration story is underappreciated by the Street. We see a more stable 2019 with far fewer concerns for investors in the company,” the Canaccord analyst wrote.

While the company’s skeptics viewed the recent price adjustments that Tesla rolled out to its vehicles as a point of criticism, Dorsheimer notes that the electric car maker’s decision to lower the cost of its cars is proof that the cost-cutting and right-sizing initiatives the company has undertaken are resulting in progress in its efforts to produce the $35,000 Model 3. The analyst also notes that Tesla’s financials are showing some degree of strength over the previous quarters.

“We view the recent string of price cuts as further proof that the cost-cutting and right-sizing that the company has undertaken are resulting in concrete movement towards the ultimate goal of an affordable $35,000 Model 3. With the strong operating cash flow generation of $1.23B and cash on the balance sheet of $3.7B, the liquidity concerns and convertible note repayment are no longer valid concerns in our view,” the analyst wrote.

Advertisement

Apart from an optimistic outlook on Tesla’s continuing Model 3 ramp and the company’s finances, Canaccord also noted that concerns around Tesla’s governance have been addressed by the addition of the company’s two new independent board members — Larry Ellison and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson — both of whom appear to be working well with CEO Elon Musk. Canaccord also mentioned Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system as a difference-maker in the self-driving field, considering the company’s lead over its competitors and the potential of autonomous driving as a whole in the future of transportation.

Amidst Canaccord’s upgrade, Tesla continues to pursue international deliveries for the Model 3. Over the past week, Tesla has begun deliveries in the European region, with Elon Musk even dropping by on the company’s Tilburg plant to deliver some vehicles himself. Tesla’s efforts to promote the Model 3 in China are also underway, with test drives ongoing in several key cities. Tesla’s determination in China was evident in an incident last week after a test drive Model 3 Performance unit crashed in Shenzen, China. Despite concerns that Shenzen might not have another test vehicle for a while due to the accident, Tesla was able to ship another Model 3 Performance to the city quickly, allowing it to restart its test drive program almost without a hitch.

So far, Canaccord’s updated ratings on Tesla appear to be received well by the company’s investors. As of writing, Tesla stock is trading up 3.47% on Monday’s open, trading at $316.49 per share.

Disclosure: I have no ownership in shares of TSLA and have no plans to initiate any positions within 72 hours.

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Model 3 ranks as the safest new car in Europe for 2025, per Euro NCAP tests

Despite being on the market longer than many of its rivals, the Tesla Model 3 continues to set the bar for vehicle safety.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Asia/X

The Tesla Model 3 has been named the safest new car on sale in 2025, according to the latest results from the Euro NCAP. Among 20 newly tested vehicles, the Model 3 emerged at the top of the list, scoring an impressive 359 out of 400 possible points across all major safety categories.

Tesla Model 3’s safety systems

Despite being on the market longer than many of its rivals, the Tesla Model 3 continues to set the bar for vehicle safety. Under Euro NCAP’s stricter 2025 testing protocols, the electric sedan earned 90% for adult occupant protection, 93% for child occupant protection, 89% for pedestrian protection, and 87% for its Safety Assist systems.

The updated Model 3 received particular praise for its advanced driver assistance features, including Tesla’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, which performed well across various test scenarios. Its Intelligent Speed Assistance and child presence detection system were cited as noteworthy features as well, as per a WhatCar report.

Other notable safety features include the Model 3’s pedestrian-friendly pop-up hood and robust crash protection for both front and side collisions. Euro NCAP also highlighted the Model 3’s ability to detect vulnerable road users during complex maneuvers, such as turning across oncoming traffic.

Euro NCAP’s Autopilot caution

While the Model 3’s safety scores were impressive across the board, Euro NCAP did raise concerns about driver expectations of Tesla’s Autopilot system. The organization warned that some owners may overestimate the system’s capabilities, potentially leading to misuse or inattention behind the wheel. Even so, the Model 3 remained the highest-scoring vehicle tested under Euro NCAP’s updated criteria this year.

Advertisement

The Euro NCAP’s concerns are also quite interesting because Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised, which is arguably the company’s most robust safety suite, is not allowed for public rollout in Europe yet. FSD Supervised would allow the Model 3 to navigate inner city streets with only minimal human supervision.

Other top scorers included the Volkswagen ID.7, Polestar 3, and Geely EX5, but none matched the Model 3’s total score or consistency across categories. A total of 14 out of 20 newly tested cars earned five stars, while several models, including the Kia EV3, MG ZS, and Renault 5, fell short of the top rating.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla upgrades Model 3 and Model Y in China, hikes price for long-range sedan

Tesla’s long-range Model 3 now comes with a higher CLTC-rated range of 753 km (468 miles).

Published

on

Credit: Tesla China

Tesla has rolled out a series of quiet upgrades to its Model 3 and Model Y in China, enhancing range and performance for long-range variants. The updates come with a price hike for the Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive, which now costs RMB 285,500 (about $39,300), up RMB 10,000 ($1,400) from the previous price.

Model 3 gets acceleration boost, extended range

Tesla’s long-range Model 3 now comes with a higher CLTC-rated range of 753 km (468 miles), up from 713 km (443 miles), and a faster 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, down from 4.4 seconds. These changes suggest that Tesla has bundled the previously optional Acceleration Boost for the Model 3, once priced at RMB 14,100 ($1,968), as a standard feature.

Delivery wait times for the long-range Model 3 have also been shortened, from 3–5 weeks to just 1–3 weeks, as per CNEV Post. No changes were made to the entry-level RWD or Performance versions, which retain their RMB 235,500 and RMB 339,500 price points, respectively. Wait times for those trims also remain at 1–3 weeks and 8–10 weeks.

Model Y range increases, pricing holds steady

The Model Y Long Range has also seen its CLTC-rated range increase from 719 km (447 miles) to 750 km (466 miles), though its price remains unchanged at RMB 313,500 ($43,759). The model maintains a 0–100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds.

Tesla also updated delivery times for the Model Y lineup. The Long Range variant now shows a wait time of 1–3 weeks, an improvement from the previous 3–5 weeks. The entry-level RWD version maintained its starting price of RMB 263,500, though its delivery window is now shorter at 2–4 weeks.

Advertisement

Tesla continues to offer several purchase incentives in China, including an RMB 8,000 discount for select paint options, an RMB 8,000 insurance subsidy, and five years of interest-free financing for eligible variants.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla trails Volkswagen in Q1 EV sales, Model Y still on top

Published

on

Volkswagen surpassed Tesla in Q1 2025 electric vehicle (EV) sales in Europe.

The German automaker sold 65,679 battery EVs compared to Tesla’s 53,237 in the first three months of the year, per JATO Dynamics data. Volkswagen’s registrations soared 157% year-over-year (yoy), while Tesla saw a 38% decline in the same period, the steepest among the top 30 brands. The German automaker’s strong performance highlights a growing competitive landscape in the EV market.

Despite losing the overall lead, Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 remain the top two in Europe’s battery EV registrations. Volkswagen’s ID.4 ranked third in EU registrations, trailing the Model 3 by 2,000 units.

Model Y registrations dropped 43% in March, but the Model 3 increased 1% in the first quarter. The decline in Model Y registrations could be linked to Tesla’s upgraded Model Y, which debuted at the beginning of the year. In the first quarter, Tesla retooled and upgraded its factories worldwide to produce the new Model Y.

“As the brand continues to deal with a host of PR issues in addition to the changeover of the Model Y, Tesla is now relying on the Model 3 to offset its losses. Despite the controversy surrounding the brand’s CEO and the limited availability of the new Model Y, Tesla continues to perform well,” said Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at JATO Dynamics.

Advertisement

Tesla addressed its Q1 challenges during its recent earnings calls, with CEO Elon Musk attributing the dip to seasonal and strategic factors.

“Now, Q1, [the] first quarters of a year, are usually pretty tricky. Because it’s usually the worst quarter of the year because people don’t want to go buy a car in the middle of winter during the blizzard. So we picked Q1 as a good quarter to do a cutover to the new version of the Model Y and we changed the production of the world’s best-selling cars with — remember, the Model Y is the best-selling car of any kind on earth with a 1.1 billion unit per year output of a single model,” Musk stated.

Volkswagen’s surge reflects its continued focus on and dedication to EVs. While Tesla’s Model Y remains the global best-seller, Volkswagen’s momentum signals intensifying competition. As both companies navigate market dynamics, Tesla’s focus on its Robotaxi network and upcoming launches will be critical to regaining its edge.

Continue Reading

Trending