Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk hit back at skeptics on X Tuesday night. “A lot of people thought Tesla stock would collapse as the tax credits came to an end this month. Guess not,” he wrote.
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The remark came as Tesla shares surged, showing strength despite the expiration of U.S. electric vehicle tax credits that many assumed would drag demand lower. Musk’s post showcases his confidence that Tesla’s growth is not tied only to government incentives.
Tesla Stock Pushes Higher
Tesla stock closed at $442.79 on September 24, up $16.94 (3.98%) for the day. Shares gained 7.07% over the past five sessions, hitting intraday highs above $447 before easing slightly in premarket trading to $440.22.
The rally highlights investors’ willingness to buy the dip even as broader auto sector concerns linger. For Musk, it is evidence that Tesla can stand on its own as demand drivers shift from subsidies to scale, technology, and brand strength.
Why the Market Reacted This Way
Economically, subsidies like tax credits reduce the effective price of a product, boosting short-term demand. When those credits expire, basic supply-and-demand logic suggests sales should weaken, which is why many traders expected Tesla stock to fall.
But Tesla’s gains show that other forces are at work. Brand loyalty, falling battery costs, and the company’s ability to scale production are offsetting the subsidy loss. Investors may also be betting that Tesla’s margins and new product cycles, from energy storage to robotics, will keep growth intact.
Investors Reassess Tesla’s Resilience
The move gives Tesla shareholders a reason to breathe. A feared collapse never materialized, and the stock is proving durable without direct subsidy support. That could change how analysts model future cash flows, with less emphasis on government aid and more on Tesla’s underlying demand curve.
Still, volatility is never far away. Without credits, Tesla faces a purer competitive market. Investors will now judge the company more directly on cost efficiency, innovation speed, and global expansion.
Is Tesla a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to TipRanks, Tesla is still considered a Hold based on 35 ratings assigned by analysts in the last three months. The average price target for TSLA stock is $329.77, implying a 25.5% downside from the current price.
