Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) ended the latest U.S. session sharply higher as investors digested fresh signs of progress in the company’s robotaxi push—then eased slightly in after-hours trading. As of the close timestamp shown by Google Finance (Dec. 15, 4:03 p.m. ET), Tesla finished at $475.31, up from a $458.96 prior close, before slipping to roughly $474.05 in extended trading. [1]
For readers in parts of Europe and Asia where the calendar has already turned to Tuesday, Dec. 16, this is still the Monday U.S. close—but the setup and catalysts matter the same: Tesla heads into Tuesday’s session with momentum, a robotaxi narrative back in the driver’s seat, and macro data due before the opening bell that could swing risk appetite.
Tesla stock after the bell: the numbers investors are reacting to
Here are the key tape-reading details from the end of the U.S. session:
- Regular-session close:$475.31 (vs. previous close $458.96) [2]
- After-hours indication:$474.05 (about -0.27% from the close) [3]
- Day range:$467.66 – $481.77 [4]
- 52-week range:$214.25 – $488.54 [5]
- Market cap (rounded): about $1.5 trillion [6]
This matters for Tuesday because Tesla is now trading within sight of its $488.54 peak from last year—an area that often attracts both momentum buyers and profit-taking sellers. Reuters notes that $488.54 was a prior record high close area associated with optimism around easing hurdles for self-driving vehicles. [7]
Why Tesla surged today: “no occupants in the car” and a robotaxi milestone
The day’s dominant catalyst was Elon Musk’s confirmation that Tesla is testing robotaxis without safety monitors—and, critically, that testing is underway with no occupants in the car, per Reuters reporting of Musk’s post and investor reaction. [8]
Tesla launched a limited robotaxi effort in Austin earlier in 2025 with geofenced operations and a human monitor in the passenger seat. Today’s move signaled a step toward “unsupervised” operations—exactly the kind of milestone that can move Tesla stock because a large portion of Tesla’s valuation is widely seen as tied to autonomy/AI expectations, not only near-term car sales. [9]
At the same time, coverage emphasized that Tesla is pushing into a competitive landscape where Waymo already operates at scale. Reuters cited Waymo with more than 2,500 commercial robotaxis and noted reporting that Waymo is delivering about 450,000 paid rides per week. [10]
What the market is debating: “progress” vs. proof
Across today’s coverage, the bullish interpretation is straightforward: Tesla is moving from a supervised pilot to something closer to true driverless operation, and that’s a prerequisite for any credible robotaxi business.
But several outlets also highlighted the unanswered questions that can matter just as much as the headline:
- The Verge emphasized that while driverless tests were spotted, Tesla’s robotaxi access remains limited and the company has not published comprehensive safety comparisons versus humans in the context of this rollout. [11]
- Business Insider reported the tests are not with paying customers, and referenced a growing Austin fleet count and an aggressive scale ambition into year-end. [12]
For traders heading into Tuesday, that split is important: good news can lift the stock fast, but details and regulatory reaction can determine whether the move sticks.
Forecasts and analyst views from today: the “AI and autonomy” premium is back
A major “today” theme wasn’t just the news event—it was how quickly analysts and market commentators translated it into valuation narratives.
Bull case (high conviction):
MarketWatch summarized Wedbush analyst Dan Ives framing Tesla’s roughly $1.5T valuation as something that could double by end-2026 in a bullish scenario, pointing to AI and autonomous driving as the key drivers. [13]
Bull case (still bullish, more common on TV and trading desks):
Barron’s pointed to Wedbush maintaining a $600 price target and calling 2026 a potential “monster year,” tied to robotaxis, the Cybercab timeline, and broader AI ambitions. [14]
Consensus reality check:
Even after today’s rally, many consensus aggregators still show Tesla’s average 12‑month target below the current share price. For example, MarketBeat lists an average price target around $399 (implying downside from the high-$400s). [15]
The takeaway before the open: today’s move was narrative-driven, and Tesla remains a stock where price targets can diverge dramatically depending on whether an analyst models Tesla as primarily an automaker or as an autonomy/AI platform.
The bear case investors still have to respect: EV fundamentals, demand signals, and valuation risk
Even with robotaxi enthusiasm, Tesla’s car business still anchors the bulk of current revenue and profit—a point Reuters underlined in today’s robotaxi report. [16]
And demand questions haven’t gone away. In a separate recent Reuters report (Dec. 11), Cox Automotive estimates shared with Reuters suggested Tesla’s U.S. sales in November fell to 39,800 units (down nearly 23% year-over-year), despite the launch of cheaper “Standard” variants—raising concerns about whether discounts and financing can offset the loss of incentives and a maturing lineup. [17]
On valuation, Morgan Stanley’s recent downgrade (earlier this month) continues to influence how some investors frame “what could go wrong” if autonomy timelines slip. Business Insider summarized Morgan Stanley moving to an equal‑weight stance largely on valuation concerns and warning of a choppy 12-month setup. [18]
Another “today” headline investors may factor into risk perception: Tesla board compensation scrutiny
Tesla wasn’t only in the news for robotaxis. Reuters also published an in-depth piece today on Tesla’s board compensation history and the scale of stock-award gains. The report cites an Equilar analysis showing Tesla directors earned more than $3 billion through stock awards, with specific large gains attributed to several directors over long time periods, and notes Tesla suspended director compensation starting in 2021 as part of a shareholder lawsuit settlement. [19]
Why it matters for Tuesday’s trade: governance headlines rarely move Tesla by themselves the way an autonomy milestone can—but they can influence how institutions think about oversight, independence, and risk controls around big strategic bets.
A quieter catalyst that still matters: Tesla’s energy business gets a Europe-focused boost
Tesla’s “battery and grid storage” story also got fresh news today. SPIE announced a European framework agreement with Tesla related to deploying battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, with a renewable three-year term and scope across SPIE’s European subsidiaries that install BESS projects. [20]
For investors, this fits a broader thesis: even if EV demand is cyclical, Tesla’s energy storage pipeline can provide another growth engine—especially as grids expand to accommodate renewables.
What to watch before the market opens tomorrow
Here’s the practical checklist for Tuesday’s opening setup (Dec. 16, 2025):
1) 8:30 a.m. ET macro data risk: jobs + retail sales
Two major releases are scheduled right before the bell:
- BLS Employment Situation for November 2025 is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m. ET, per the BLS release calendar. [21]
- The U.S. Census Bureau notes that the October 2025 Advance Monthly Retail Sales release was rescheduled for Dec. 16, 2025 (8:30 a.m.) due to impacts from a lapse in federal funding. [22]
High-growth mega caps like Tesla can react sharply to these reports via interest-rate expectations—especially if yields move quickly after the data.
2) Follow-up details on robotaxi testing
The headline moved the stock today; Tuesday’s direction could depend on whether investors learn more about:
- the scope of testing (routes, supervision, remote ops),
- safety performance metrics,
- and any regulator commentary (local or federal).
Coverage today made clear that Tesla is pushing closer to “unsupervised” operations, while competitors already have large commercial footprints—so the market will be sensitive to proof points. [23]
3) Technical “fight zones”: $474–$488
From a trading perspective, today set up clear levels:
- ~$474 area: highlighted as a key technical reference in investor-trader coverage (buy-point discussion) [24]
- $481–$482 area: near today’s high range [25]
- ~$488.54: the 52-week high area [26]
If Tesla opens strong and holds above the mid‑$470s, momentum traders may look for a re-test of the highs. If it fades below that zone, the market may read today’s move as a “news spike” rather than the start of another leg higher.
Bottom line for TSLA heading into Tuesday’s open
Tesla stock is entering Tuesday with a clear narrative tailwind—driverless robotaxi testing progress—and a price that reflects renewed investor willingness to pay up for Tesla’s autonomy and AI optionality. [27]
But the next session also brings real event risk: major 8:30 a.m. ET economic data could reset rate expectations, and Tesla’s rally remains vulnerable to the same questions that have divided Wall Street—EV demand softness, valuation debates, and the need for verifiable autonomy performance at scale. [28]
References
1. www.google.com, 2. www.google.com, 3. www.google.com, 4. www.google.com, 5. www.google.com, 6. www.google.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.theverge.com, 12. www.businessinsider.com, 13. www.marketwatch.com, 14. www.barrons.com, 15. www.marketbeat.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.businessinsider.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.globenewswire.com, 21. www.bls.gov, 22. www.census.gov, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.investors.com, 25. www.google.com, 26. www.google.com, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. www.reuters.com
