Electric vehicle (EV) stocks are trading on a split screen Tuesday, December 16, 2025: Tesla is climbing toward record territory on fresh robotaxi momentum, while much of the broader EV ecosystem—from early-stage automakers to charging names—faces a tougher tape as investors digest a major Ford strategy pivot, policy uncertainty around charging buildouts, and rate-sensitive market moves following the delayed U.S. jobs report.
Below is what matters most for EV stocks today in the U.S. stock market, as of ~1:45 PM ET (intraday), and what investors are watching next.
EV stocks snapshot (U.S.-listed) around 1:45 PM ET
Moves are intraday vs. the prior close and change quickly.
- Tesla (TSLA): ~$477.89, +0.5%
- Rivian (RIVN): ~$17.98, -3.9%
- Lucid (LCID): ~$11.34, -4.0%
- ChargePoint (CHPT): ~$7.40, -6.4%
- EVgo (EVGO): ~$3.13, +1.1%
- Ford (F): ~$13.64, flat/slightly down
- General Motors (GM): ~$81.41, -0.7%
- NIO (NIO): ~$4.97, -0.5%
- XPeng (XPEV): ~$18.39, +0.4%
- Li Auto (LI): ~$16.54, -0.6%
- QuantumScape (QS): ~$10.74, -0.8%
Tesla (TSLA): Robotaxi momentum is back in the driver’s seat
Tesla is the clear standout in today’s EV complex. The stock is hovering near its all-time highs, powered by investor focus shifting (again) from near-term auto margins and deliveries to the autonomy/robotaxi narrative. [1]
What sparked today’s Tesla strength
Multiple outlets are pointing to the same catalyst: Elon Musk confirming Tesla is testing robotaxis without safety monitors, a step change from earlier operations that used monitors in the vehicle. [2]
That update is meaningful because it tightens the timeline between (1) limited pilots and (2) a commercially scalable model—at least in the story the market is currently rewarding.
Today’s analyst forecast and price-target range is widening again
Tesla coverage is increasingly “barbell-shaped”:
- Mizuho lifted its Tesla price target to $530 (Buy), highlighting progress on the robotaxi trajectory. [3]
- Wedbush’s Daniel Ives reiterated a bullish stance, with commentary that Tesla could reach a multi-trillion-dollar valuation if autonomy and AI initiatives scale as expected (with a commonly cited $600 base case in recent commentary). [4]
- More cautious takes remain prominent: Barclays’ Dan Levy has flagged regulatory friction as a key constraint and has been far more conservative on valuation assumptions than the most bullish autonomy models. [5]
Even in today’s rally, the “street view” remains mixed: Barron’s notes only about 40% of analysts rate Tesla a Buy, below the S&P 500 average, and points to a much lower average price target level than the most bullish calls. [6]
The competitive reality check: Waymo is already operating at scale
Reuters emphasized why Tesla’s robotaxi “proof points” matter: Waymo is already running a large commercial robotaxi operation, which raises the bar for what “success” looks like in autonomy. [7]
Why this matters for EV stocks today: Tesla’s ability to keep outperforming the EV pack increasingly hinges on whether investors keep underwriting Tesla as an AI/autonomy platform rather than a cyclical automaker. Today’s price action suggests the platform narrative is firmly in control—for now. [8]
Ford’s EV pivot: A headline that ripples through the entire EV supply chain
If Tesla is the upside story, Ford is the shake-the-snow-globe story.
Ford’s shift away from some battery-EV plans—paired with a massive charge tied to EV restructuring—isn’t just a Ford headline. It’s a signal event for sentiment across EV makers, battery suppliers, and charging infrastructure.
What Ford announced (and why markets care)
Ford outlined a strategic pivot toward hybrids and extended-range EVs (EREVs) and away from certain battery-only EV programs, taking a $19.5 billion charge tied to EV-related restructuring. [9]
Several reports also highlight Ford’s plan to repurpose parts of its battery capacity toward stationary storage, including serving data center demand—an adjacent theme that also echoes Tesla’s energy-storage success. [10]
Battery suppliers and EV-linked names feel the shockwaves
Reuters reported immediate spillovers in the battery ecosystem, with LG Energy Solution and other Korean battery/materials names sliding after Ford’s pivot hit the tape. [11]
MarketWatch also framed it bluntly: Ford’s retreat left some battery-related equities “getting battered,” and even pointed to U.S.-listed battery tech names like QuantumScape as being pressured in sympathy. [12]
What this means for EV stocks today: Ford’s message reinforces a market preference that’s been building for months—profitability and demand certainty first, electrification pace second. That tends to favor the EV names with scale and optionality (Tesla; some large incumbents) over smaller, cash-burning players. [13]
Charging infrastructure: A major lawsuit adds uncertainty on a key EV tailwind
One of the most consequential EV headlines today isn’t about a car—it’s about charging funding.
Reuters: 16 states sue over suspended charging programs
Reuters reports 16 states and Washington, D.C. sued the Trump administration on December 16, 2025, alleging the U.S. Department of Transportation halted approvals for funding applications tied to EV charging infrastructure programs created under the 2022 infrastructure law (including $2.5 billion earmarked for EV and hydrogen fueling deployment). [14]
Why this matters for EV charging stocks
Even when charging-network companies aren’t direct recipients of federal dollars, public funding can catalyze site host decisions, utility buildouts, and corridor coverage, which can influence utilization growth and investor sentiment.
That backdrop helps explain why charging equities can trade heavy on “policy-risk days” like today—especially names that investors already view as financing-sensitive.
- ChargePoint (CHPT) is lower intraday and remains in a “prove it” zone for investors after recent dilution/registration-related headlines. Recent coverage notes the market reaction to the company’s filing tied to registering shares for resale and shares potentially issued for interest payments—an overhang investors often interpret as dilution risk. [15]
EVgo tries to flip the script with execution news
EVgo, meanwhile, had a more constructive company-specific headline: it announced it has deployed 40%+ of its 2025 stations using prefabricated modular charging skids, citing roughly 15% lower installation costs and faster scaling—an angle that directly addresses investor concerns about capex efficiency. [16]
Takeaway for EV stocks today: Policy tailwinds for charging are no longer “set and forget.” The market is treating charging as a policy + financing + utilization story—and any legal/regulatory disruption can quickly reprice sentiment. [17]
Rivian (RIVN) and Lucid (LCID): Risk-off pressure returns to the smaller EV makers
Today’s tape is a reminder that, outside Tesla, many EV makers still trade like high-beta, rate-sensitive growth equities—especially when the macro backdrop is noisy and investors are debating the durability of EV demand.
Rivian (RIVN): Giving back ground after the AI-driven pop
Rivian is down sharply intraday.
While there isn’t a single dominant Rivian-specific headline dated today driving the move, it follows a period where Rivian’s stock was boosted by enthusiasm around its autonomy/AI strategy and custom self-driving compute plans, which Reuters reported had prompted upbeat analyst reactions and higher price targets last week. [18]
In other words: Rivian is still being priced on narrative momentum, and narrative momentum can fade quickly in a risk-off session.
Lucid (LCID): New lows and options activity put the spotlight back on survival math
Lucid is also down, and reports today highlight continued market stress:
- Investing.com noted Lucid hitting a fresh 52-week low in today’s trading. [19]
- MarketBeat flagged unusual options activity (elevated call-option volume), reflecting heightened trading interest and positioning. [20]
Bottom line: When the sector’s biggest headlines are (1) Tesla’s robotaxi upside and (2) Ford stepping back from aggressive BEV plans, it’s difficult for subscale EV makers to win mindshare—unless they deliver clear, near-term catalysts.
Macro backdrop: The jobs report and rate expectations are shaping EV multiples today
EV equities—especially unprofitable automakers and charging firms—often trade with long-duration growth sensitivity. Today’s macro headlines explain part of the divergence inside “EV stocks.”
Delayed jobs report: payrolls rebound, unemployment rises
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported +64,000 jobs in November and an unemployment rate of 4.6%, with analysis complicated by the recent government shutdown (October household survey data wasn’t collected). [21]
Markets: equities slip as traders reassess the path of rates
Reuters reported Wall Street’s major indexes were lower as investors parsed the data for clues on the Federal Reserve’s next moves. [22]
Separately, Reuters noted rate futures briefly lifted the odds of a January cut, though markets still leaned toward a pause, and expectations for 2026 cuts remain part of the forward curve narrative. [23]
Why EV investors care: If the market concludes rates will stay higher-for-longer, the penalty is typically most severe for companies with heavy cash burn and distant profitability—a profile that still describes many non-Tesla EV and charging names.
What to watch next for EV stocks (the rest of today and beyond)
Here are the near-term signposts traders are keying on after today’s headline burst:
- Tesla robotaxi proof points
Watch for specifics on expansion pace, operational design (geo-fencing, ODD limits), and any regulator-facing milestones that move robotaxi from narrative to modelable revenue. [24] - Ford’s execution details after the $19.5B EV charge
Investors will want clarity on product cadence, EREV economics, and how quickly Ford can turn “EV restructuring” into improved cash flow—and what that implies for EV suppliers. [25] - Charging policy risk (and the lawsuit timeline)
The states’ legal challenge could become a multi-month overhang. Charging names may remain sensitive to any incremental headlines from the DOT, the courts, and state-level responses. [26] - Cost-down execution from charging operators
EVgo’s modular skid strategy is exactly the kind of operational efficiency story the market wants in 2026-facing models. Investors will be watching for proof in margins and station uptime/utilization. [27] - Rates and risk appetite
As long as the market is debating the timing of the next Fed move, EV stocks will likely continue to show outsized sensitivity to yields and macro data surprises. [28]
EV stocks are not trading as a single “theme” today. They’re trading as three separate stories:
- Tesla as autonomy/AI (risk-on within EV)
- Legacy automakers recalibrating EV ambition (profitability-first)
- Charging and early-stage EV makers navigating policy + capital market reality
That split is the defining feature of EV investing heading into 2026—and it’s on full display in today’s tape.
References
1. www.barrons.com, 2. www.barrons.com, 3. www.barrons.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.barrons.com, 6. www.barrons.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.barrons.com, 9. www.barrons.com, 10. www.businessinsider.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.marketwatch.com, 13. www.barrons.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.stocktitan.net, 16. finance.yahoo.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. za.investing.com, 20. www.marketbeat.com, 21. www.bls.gov, 22. www.reuters.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.barrons.com, 25. www.barrons.com, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. finance.yahoo.com, 28. www.reuters.com
