Tesla Stock Rises as EV Maker Teases Major Announcement. Here’s What It Could Be.

Coming into Monday trading, Tesla stock was up 6% so far in 2025. (Getty Images)

Key Points

• Tesla stock rose 2.4% in premarket trading after the company teased a major announcement for October 7th.
• Investors anticipate a more affordable Tesla model to expand market reach and offset the loss of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
• Tesla’s 2025 sales through September were 1.22 million cars, a 6% year-over-year decrease despite record third-quarter sales.

Tesla stock was rising early Monday after the electric-vehicle maker teased a major announcement.

The company shared a short video on Sunday showing just the headlights of a vehicle surrounded by darkness, on social-media platform X. A separate video showed a Tesla wheel or fan spinning and ended with the date “10/7.”

Shares of the electric vehicle maker were up 2.4% in premarket trading at $440.26, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively

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Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment early Monday, but investors are waiting for a couple of things.

For starters, there is a more affordable model that Tesla has teased for many months. Less expensive cars can help expand Tesla’s addressable market and offset some of the headwind from the recent elimination of the $7,500 federal EV purchase tax credit.

Tesla could use a new model to help boost sales. Through September, the EV maker sold about 1.22 million cars in 2025, down 6% year over year. The drop comes despite record sales of almost 500,000 vehicles in the third quarter.

Tesla’s stock dropped 2.4% this past week after reporting better-than-expected numbers on Thursday. The stock’s starting point helps explain the reaction. Shares advanced about 40% in the month leading up to the delivery report.

In July, CEO Elon Musk hinted that the cheaper Tesla would be based on the Model Y. That might not be exactly what investors want with the newer cars simply shifting sales from more expensive versions of Tesla’s best-selling vehicle.

The other thing investors are looking for is the expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi service. Tesla started a self-driving cab service in Austin, Texas, in June. The company has received permission to test its autonomous cars in other cities, but it hasn’t announced a new service yet.

Investors can’t be sure what’s coming on Tuesday. They will be eagerly waiting and watching, though.

Coming into Monday trading, Tesla stock was up about 6% year to date and up about 72% over the past 12 months.

Write to Callum Keown at callum.keown@dowjones.com