New York, Feb 20, 2026, 16:50 EST — After-hours trade.
- Tesla shares barely budged after hours. The company introduced a lower-priced Cybertruck and slashed prices on its highest-end trim.
- A U.S. judge has let stand a $243 million jury verdict stemming from a deadly 2019 crash that involved Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system.
- Investors are debating if new discounts will actually spur demand — or just eat into margins even more.
Tesla ended Friday’s after-hours session almost flat, up just 0.03% at $411.82. Earlier, the stock bounced between $405.55 and $414.62 during regular trading.
Fresh headlines hit just as Tesla (TSLA.O) doubles down on price cuts to stir demand in a sluggish EV market. Its ongoing bet on self-driving tech? Still under the legal and regulatory microscope. Traders are left wrestling with the usual dilemma: chase volume at the expense of margin, or weigh the company’s growth hype against its looming legal risks.
Tesla late Thursday rolled out a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Cybertruck at $59,990, while the company also slashed the Cyberbeast’s price to $99,990. CEO Elon Musk said that lower price sticks “only for the next 10 days.” Tesla called the offer limited in duration. (Reuters)
Late Friday, a Miami federal judge shut down Tesla’s attempt to toss out a $243 million jury verdict tied to a 2019 Florida crash involving a Model S using Autopilot. Tesla now faces its next step: deciding whether to appeal. (Reuters)
Tesla sidestepped a possible sales halt in California just two days prior by dropping the “Autopilot” label in its marketing across the state and clarifying that drivers must keep their hands on the wheel. (The Verge)
The stock barely budged, even as U.S. equities climbed Friday. A Supreme Court decision voided former President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, taking one uncertainty off the table. Investors, though, still faced a mix of economic numbers to parse. (Reuters)
Even so, Cybertruck price cuts highlight just how much Tesla’s immediate narrative has swung back to questions around demand and pricing strength. Investors are left waiting to see if the lower sticker actually brings in fresh customers—or just shifts existing orders between different trims.
Here’s the risk: Lowering prices won’t help if it doesn’t drive demand quickly—margins get squeezed, and legal setbacks from driver-assistance claims could force investors to push the stock discount even wider.
Traders are watching for any adjustment to Tesla’s prices after the 10-day Cybertruck promotion ends. Attention also swings to Nvidia’s earnings on Feb. 25—a crucial signal for the AI-focused megacaps that have been driving growth-stock sentiment. (nvidianews.nvidia.com)
