New York, Jan 19, 2026, 12:31 (ET) — Market closed
Tesla (TSLA.O) will grab attention when U.S. markets open Tuesday after Canada announced it’s scrapping the 100% tariff on China-made EVs. It’s replacing that with a quota allowing up to 49,000 vehicles annually at the usual 6.1% tariff. Half of those slots are earmarked for cars under C$35,000. Competitors like BYD and Nio don’t yet sell in Canada, so AutoForecast Solutions’ Sam Fiorani suggested this move “could allow resumption of those exports rather quickly.” On Friday, Tesla slipped 0.2% to $437.50, Rivian (RIVN.O) dropped 2.4%, and Lucid (LCID.O) nudged up 0.7%. 1
Wall Street was shut Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, pushing all the reaction to Tuesday’s session since there was no U.S. cash trading to digest the news. 2
Policy is once again steering the auto and EV sectors. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed the administration’s move to roll back vehicle emissions standards “will bring car prices down and allow car companies to offer products that Americans want to buy” during a Detroit Auto Show visit with officials. That comes as average new-vehicle transaction prices hit a record $50,326 in December, according to Cox Automotive. 3
Battery supply chains threw a new curve. Syrah Resources announced Tesla has agreed to a third extension of the cure deadline in their graphite supply contract dispute, moving it to March 16, subject to U.S. Department of Energy approval. Syrah maintains it “does not accept it is in default” under the offtake agreement. 4
Risk appetite wobbled again when President Donald Trump announced potential new tariffs on several European nations. The news dragged U.S. futures down and sent investors fleeing to safer assets during Monday’s overseas session. 5
Graphite serves as a key component for the anode — the battery’s negative electrode — in most lithium-ion cells. “Active anode material” refers to processed graphite (or mixtures) crafted to precise standards, ensuring reliable performance within the cell.
For EV stocks, the interplay of trade rules, incentives, and raw-material shortages can be just as crucial as delivery numbers. This quickly impacts margin forecasts and shapes investors’ bets on which players can turn a profit beyond China’s borders.
But the story flips in other directions, too. Early volumes might be capped by quotas and pricing thresholds. Supply agreements linked to technical tests often stretch out beyond market predictions.
Tesla’s quarterly report arrives Jan. 28, after the market closes. The company’s management will follow up with a webcast Q&A that same day. 6
