Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) denied reports that it is winding down its Full Self-Driving (FSD) operations in China, stating the claims were false. The electric vehicle maker confirmed it is not shutting down its Shanghai data center and is instead increasing hiring for self-driving roles.

Operational Updates in China

Despite the denial of shutdown rumors, Tesla initiated its largest recall in the country, affecting nearly 3 million vehicles. The recall addresses issues with emergency door releases following at least 15 deaths reported in 12 crashes where occupants or rescuers could not open the doors of burning vehicles.

Product and Pricing Moves

In the United States, Tesla raised prices for its Cybertruck all-electric pickup truck by up to $5,000 for some trim levels. This price increase comes despite sluggish sales figures for the model.

CEO Elon Musk also fueled speculation about a new family-oriented vehicle, describing it as "way cooler than a minivan." This follows previous unveilings of the Robovan concept.

Broader Expansion Plans

Musk discussed the potential for Tesla’s Optimus robots to become the first "Von Neumann" machine. Separately, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) revealed plans for a new Starbase spaceport in Louisiana. The project is estimated to cost over $100 billion, aims to be self-sustaining, and is expected to create 3,000 jobs.

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) has secured a clear deployment timeline for its 500-unit Semi truck order from Einride AB (NASDAQ: ENRD). Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli stated that approximately 75 trucks will be deployed before the end of 2026, with the remainder expected by the end of 2027.

Deployment Timeline

The Swedish freight-technology company plans to integrate the electric trucks into its Saga AI platform. The initial batch of roughly 75 vehicles will serve customers including Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). The strategy is described as "U.S.-focused." The remaining fleet is scheduled for completion within the following year.

Commercial Context

This timeline follows Tesla’s announcement of the 500-truck order, which arrived shortly after the first Semi rolled off the new high-volume production line in Nevada. Tesla had previously secured a separate order for 370 Semi units from WattEV, which operates on a Truck-as-a-Service model.

FSD Hardware Concerns

Investor Ross Gerber expressed doubts regarding Tesla’s ability to deliver unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) using the existing HW4 chip. His concerns were reinforced by a JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) note detailing the company’s self-driving roadmap and upcoming FSD iterations.

Cybercab Strategy

JPMorgan reported that Tesla is prioritizing the scaling of the Cybercab over expanding its Model Y robotaxi fleet. The bank indicated confidence in Tesla’s ability to scale the dedicated vehicle and hinted at future models based on the Cybercab platform.

The company is reportedly preparing to launch the Cybercab in Austin, Texas, potentially as early as this month. This move aims to expand its Robotaxi network and compete directly with Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Waymo.

Supply Chain Updates

CEO Elon Musk highlighted Tesla’s supply chain localization, stating that vehicles feature 84% American content. He emphasized that the company sources parts from American suppliers amid tariff changes under President Donald Trump.

Market Sentiment

Gary Black of The Future Fund LLC criticized optimistic Tesla influencers on social media, comparing their behavior to "college students doing tequila shots."

TSLA shares rose 0.65% to $357.11 during pre-market trading on Friday.