New York, January 6, 2026, 09:32 EST — Regular session
- Tesla shares up about 3% in early trade, extending a rebound from Monday’s gains
- New data show Tesla’s December sales fell sharply in Germany and the UK as BYD gained ground
- Investors eye CES autonomy headlines this week and Tesla’s Jan. 28 results next
Tesla shares rose about 3.1% to $451.67 in early Tuesday trading, extending a rebound from the prior session even as fresh data showed the electric-vehicle maker’s December sales slid in key European markets.
The European prints matter because they sharpen questions around Tesla’s growth and pricing power at a time when investors are debating how much of the stock’s value rests on its non-auto ambitions. A Reuters Breakingviews column said Tesla delivered about 1.6 million vehicles in 2025, down from a 2023 peak, while China’s BYD sold more than 2 million battery-electric cars.
Focus is also shifting to autonomy and software, which bulls argue can offset slower car sales and thinner margins. Mercedes-Benz said it will roll out a city-street driver-assistance system in the United States later this year, putting fresh competitive pressure on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package.
In Germany, the road traffic agency KBA said Tesla sold 2,032 cars in December, down 48% from a year earlier, while full-year 2025 sales fell 48.4% to 19,390 vehicles. BYD’s sales jumped more than 12-fold to 4,109 in December and reached 23,306 for the year, as overall EV registrations in Germany rose 43.2% to 545,142.
In Britain, Tesla registrations — a proxy for sales — fell more than 29% year on year in December to 6,323, New AutoMotive data showed. “The influx of new models and brands from China is creating fierce competition that will continue to force prices down,” said Steve Walker, head of digital content at industry website Auto Express, while SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes warned the shift to EVs was still moving too slowly. Reuters
Mercedes said its MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO package will cost $3,950 for three years in the United States, compared with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving at about $8,000 or $99 a month. Mercedes added its system, like Tesla’s, requires drivers to remain alert and ready to intervene at all times.
At CES 2026, which runs Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, companies are expected to tout autonomous vehicle hardware and software as carmakers reassess EV plans amid policy shifts, Reuters reported. “This year you will see more and more focus on AI and autonomous,” said C.J. Finn, PwC’s U.S. automotive industry leader, adding that investors will watch how firms use AI to roll out driverless features safely. Reuters
Tesla climbed 3.1% on Monday, snapping a seven-session losing streak as Wall Street rallied, Reuters reported. Traders are also watching Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report — the government’s monthly jobs tally — for clues on the Federal Reserve’s rate path, a key swing factor for high-valuation growth stocks.
But repeated signs of cooling demand in Europe risk fueling expectations for heavier incentives and thinner margins, and any cautious outlook could reignite volatility. Regulatory scrutiny and the cost of bringing autonomous features to scale remain another overhang.
Tesla is scheduled to report fourth-quarter results on Jan. 28, with investors focused on margin trends and any update on autonomy and its energy business. CES headlines this week and the Jan. 9 jobs report are the next near-term catalysts for the stock.
