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Tesla (TSLA) shows strength amid impending Made-in-China Model 3 deliveries, Cybertruck sightings

(Credit: Tesla China/Twitter)

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Tesla stock (NASDAQ:TSLA) is showing some strength on Tuesday amid reports hinting that deliveries of the Made-in-China Model 3 may be starting sooner than expected. Apart from this, interest in the Tesla Cybertruck remains high weeks after the vehicle’s unveiling, thanks to sightings of the upcoming pickup and Elon Musk’s recent trip to Malibu, CA. 

As the year ends, things appear to be settling for Tesla. Following its breakout recovery in the third quarter, a lot of what was once deemed as potential issues are starting to melt away. CEO Elon Musk recently won a defamation case filed against him by a British caver who mocked and insulted the efforts of SpaceX engineers during the height of the Thai cave rescue. Alexander Potter, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, also shared some optimistic expectations for the company, raising his TSLA price target to $423 and dubbing the electric car maker’s shares as a “must-have.”

Yet, if there is one aspect of Tesla’s business that seems poised to make a big difference for the electric car maker, it would be the progress of its Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China. Tesla’s China push has beat expectations pretty much at every turn, with the electric car maker’s targets being met and exceeded by its Chinese construction partner and regulators. From Gigafactory 3’s construction of its Phase 1 zone, which would allow the company to start producing the Made-in-China Model 3, to the quick processing of permits with regulators, Tesla China has proceeded at near-ludicrous speed. 

(Credit: Jay In Shanghai/Twitter)

Recent reports from China indicate that not only was Tesla already starting the mass production of the MIC Model 3 in its Shanghai-based plant; it is also poised to begin initial deliveries soon. Just days after receiving its final sales license, car carrier trucks loaded with Model 3 were spotted in Gigafactory 3 premises, with the vehicles reportedly being sent to Tesla delivery centers in select areas of the country. Drone flyovers of the Gigafactory 3 area also revealed over 300 MIC Model 3 in Gigafactory 3’s parking lots, ready for delivery. 

Apart from Gigafactory 3’s steady progress, Tesla’s recently unveiled pickup truck continues to reach more and more people. Thanks to the Cybertruck’s design, the vehicle has captured the interest even of individuals who would normally have no interest whatsoever in pickups at all. Over the weeks since the vehicle’s unveiling, the Cybertruck has inspired countless memes, fan-made video trailers, and cool DIY projects. That doesn’t count viral videos of the Cybertruck’s sightings either. This weekend, for example, the Cybertruck was spotted in Malibu being driven by none other than Elon Musk, and the vehicle attracted a ton of attention. 

Tesla Cybertruck at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, California
Tesla Cybertruck at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, California (Photo: v2rocxket/Reddit)

While Musk has stated that the Cybertruck is pretty much like an acid test for Tesla, the vehicle seems poised to be a big hit for the electric car maker. Over 250,000 reservations have been filed for the vehicle as per Musk’s most recent update, and more and more people are warming up to the futuristic pickup. Among them is Piper Jaffray’s Alexander Potter, who noted that prior to the Cybertuck’s unveiling, he was skeptical that Tesla could move the needle in the pickup segment. The analyst noted that it did not take long before his perception of the vehicle began to change. 

“The more we looked, the more we began considering the possibility that ALL OTHER pickup trucks might actually be pretty crummy, and that Tesla’s Cybertruck is the only pickup worth ordering,” he wrote

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Overall, Tesla may be looking at steadier waters ahead. From June, when TSLA stock was trading at 52-week lows, the company has rebounded by almost 92% and $29 billion on forecasts of rising profits, market share, and steady demand for its vehicles like the Model 3 and its crossover sibling, the upcoming Model Y. If Tesla can end 2019 on a strong note, 2020 may very well be more welcoming to the electric car maker than this very challenging year.

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

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.

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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.

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Credit: @ArthurFromX/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.

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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.

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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.

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(Credit: Rivian)

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.

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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.

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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.

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tesla-model-y-giga-texas-logo
(Credit: Tesla)

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%.

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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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