Tesla Stock Daily Drive

October 12, 2025 • Finance

Hosted by Dusty

About This Episode

Generated finance podcast with host Dusty based on prompt: Daily stock movements for Tesla. Focus on the stock, but provide any important background information that is necessary.

Transcript

Welcome to "Tesla Stock Daily Drive." I'm Dusty, your guide through today's market twists and turns. Let's dive into the rollercoaster that was Friday, October 10, 2025, and explore what it means for Tesla and the broader market.

Tesla, a name synonymous with innovation, saw its shares open at $436.54 and, after a tense day of trading, settled at $413.49. That's a dip of about 5.1% from Thursday's close. It was a high-volume day, too, with over 112 million shares traded, signaling heightened investor activity.

This drop wasn't just a Tesla story. The broader market was caught in a whirlwind, with the Nasdaq plummeting 3.6%, marking its worst day since April. The S&P 500 and Dow also took hits, falling 2.7% and 1.9% respectively. The catalyst? Renewed U.S.-China tariff threats. President Trump's announcement of a potential 100% tariff on Chinese goods had everyone on edge.

Part of the heat Tesla faced was due to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into its Full Self-Driving software. Concerns about traffic violations and related crashes sparked fear of possible recalls, affecting investor sentiment.

Despite these challenges, some analysts remain optimistic. Stifel raised its price target for Tesla to $483, expressing confidence in the company's autonomous driving advancements. Morgan Stanley also highlights Tesla's self-driving prospects, which they believe hold significant potential.

Tesla's recent delivery figures were impressive, with a record 481,166 units in Q3. But there's anxiety about what the future holds, especially since some demand was likely spurred by expiring EV tax credits. The big question is whether Q4 can maintain this momentum without similar incentives.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for October 13, 2025, when trading resumes, and October 22, when Tesla releases its Q3 earnings. Investors will keenly watch for insights into Tesla's margins, updates on Full Self-Driving, and the robotaxi rollout in Austin. These factors will shape Tesla's trajectory as we approach year-end.

As we wrap up, remember: the market is ever-changing, but it’s these shifts that reveal true insights. When the dust settles, only the truth remains. Thanks for tuning in to "Tesla Stock Daily Drive." Until next time, stay informed and stay curious.

## Tesla Stock Performance on Friday, October 10, 2025

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) last traded on Friday, October 10, 2025—U.S. markets were closed on October 11 (a Saturday), so this remains the most recent session. According to StatMuse data, TSLA opened at $436.54, reached an intraday high of $443.13 and a low of $411.45, before settling at $413.49. Volume was heavy at 112.11 million shares, marking one of the busiest days of the month. Compared with Thursday’s close of $435.54, the $22.05 decline represents a slide of roughly 5.1% ([statmuse.com](https://www.statmuse.com/money/ask/tesla-stock-price-in-october-2025?utm_source=openai)).

## Broader Market Context

Tesla’s pullback took place amid a sharp sell-off across U.S. equity markets. On October 10, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite plunged 3.6% to 22,204.43, its worst day since April, while the S&P 500 dropped 2.7% to 6,552.51 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.9% to 45,479.60. Investors were unsettled by renewed U.S.–China tariff threats, as President Trump announced plans for a potential 100% tariff on Chinese goods in retaliation for China’s rare-earth export controls. The sell-off erased weeks of gains and saw technology names underperform broadly ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/8898351a46c9aa24cf00313138746e19?utm_source=openai)).

## Impact of the NHTSA Full Self-Driving Probe

A primary catalyst for Tesla’s steeper decline was mounting safety concerns around its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. On October 9, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation into nearly 2.9 million Teslas equipped with FSD after receiving more than 50 reports of traffic-law violations and 14 crashes that caused 23 injuries. Allegations include vehicles running red lights, making unsafe lane changes and failing to alert drivers to hazards. The probe could lead to software recalls or new regulatory mandates, intensifying investor worries about Tesla’s AI roadmap and liability exposure ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-opens-probe-into-28-million-tesla-vehicles-over-traffic-violations-when-using-2025-10-09/?utm_source=openai)).

## Analyst Sentiment and Price Targets

Despite the headwinds, some Wall Street strategists remain constructive on Tesla’s long-term prospects. Earlier in the week, Stifel raised its price target from $440 to $483, citing confidence in FSD and the forthcoming robotaxi network, and maintained a Buy rating. Stifel analysts believe advancements in Tesla’s autonomous-driving pipeline could unlock additional upside well beyond near-term sales concerns ([teslarati.com](https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-tsla-nears-time-high-nearly-10-week-amid-string-upbeat-news/?utm_source=openai)). Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas has assigned approximately $250 of his $410 target to Tesla’s self-driving capabilities, underscoring the premium investors place on the company’s AI ambitions even as hardware and regulatory challenges persist ([moneycheck.com](https://moneycheck.com/tesla-tsla-stock-robotaxi-service-expansion-drives-shares-higher/?utm_source=openai)).

## Recent Delivery Trends and Consumer Incentives

Tesla’s stock volatility this month follows a mixed third-quarter delivery and incentives backdrop. In early October, the company reported record Q3 vehicle deliveries of 481,166 units—up 7.4% year-over-year—and a record 12.5 GWh deployment of energy storage products. That rally proved short-lived as investors parsed how much of the demand surge represented a pull-forward ahead of U.S. federal EV tax-credit expirations on September 30. Concerns have since grown that Q4 deliveries could face a slowdown absent similar incentives, particularly in the U.S. market ([markets.financialcontent.com](https://markets.financialcontent.com/postgazette/article/marketminute-2025-10-2-teslas-robotaxi-ambitions-overshadow-record-deliveries-as-stock-dips?utm_source=openai)).

## Outlook and Key Catalysts

Looking ahead, Tesla faces several near-term catalysts. The next trading session is October 13, 2025, when broader market sentiment—driven by ongoing tariff rhetoric and the government shutdown stalling fresh economic data—will continue to influence TSLA. Importantly, Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings report is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, after market close, with consensus estimates calling for $0.52 EPS and roughly $25.4 billion in revenue. Investors will be watching not only delivery figures but also margin guidance, FSD progress updates and commentary on the robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas. The outcome of these reports, alongside regulatory developments, is likely to set the tone for Tesla’s stock trajectory into the year-end ([marketbeat.com](https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/TSLA/earnings/?utm_source=openai)).

Tesla Stock Daily Drive