Apple's Aggressive Recruitment of Tesla Engineers During EV Project
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Talent War: During Apple's electric vehicle project development, the company aggressively targeted Tesla engineers with relentless recruiting calls, which Musk described as 'carpet bombing,' leading engineers to unplug their phones, highlighting Apple's strong competitive intent in the EV sector.
- High Salary Offers: Musk revealed that Apple's recruitment offers were often double Tesla's salaries and frequently made without formal interviews, placing Tesla at a disadvantage in the talent market, especially during periods of strong company performance when poaching became more likely.
- Geographical Influence: Tesla's location in Silicon Valley facilitated job switching for engineers, with Musk noting that the company's engineering-heavy culture attracted competitors eager to accelerate innovation, further exacerbating the risk of talent loss.
- Apple Project Termination: After facing multiple technical challenges and leadership reshuffles, Apple shelved its electric vehicle project Titan in 2024, reflecting the complexities of strategic adjustments and market competition in the EV landscape.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy TSLA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on TSLA
Wall Street analysts forecast TSLA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TSLA is 401.93 USD with a low forecast of 25.28 USD and a high forecast of 600.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
30 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
11 Hold
7 Sell
Hold
Current: 397.210
Low
25.28
Averages
401.93
High
600.00
Current: 397.210
Low
25.28
Averages
401.93
High
600.00
About TSLA
Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, sells and leases high-performance fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems, and offers services related to its products. Its segments include automotive, and energy generation and storage. The automotive segment includes the design, development, manufacturing, sales and leasing of high-performance fully electric vehicles, and sales of automotive regulatory credits. It also includes sales of used vehicles, non-warranty maintenance services and collisions, part sales, paid supercharging, insurance services revenue and retail merchandise sales. The energy generation and storage segment include the design, manufacture, installation, sales and leasing of solar energy generation and energy storage products and related services and sales of solar energy systems incentives. Its consumer vehicles include the Model 3, Y, S, X and Cybertruck. Its lithium-ion battery energy storage products include Powerwall and Megapack.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Tesla's Investor Update Shifts Market Perception
- Strategic Shift: Tesla's commitment of $20 billion to build six new factories by 2026, while criticized as a departure from electric vehicles, actually supports its vision for future autonomous driving and transportation services, thereby reinforcing its dominance in the EV market.
- Increased Cash Flow Risk: Tesla is projected to face a $6.2 billion cash outflow in 2026, and although the CFO claims the company has $44 billion in cash and investments to fund spending, this significant investment could strain financial health in the short term, impacting investor confidence.
- Regulatory Challenges: The deployment of Tesla's robotaxis lacks regulatory approval outside Texas, rendering its business model uncertain and increasing investment risks, as the company cannot control the approval process.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With Nvidia potentially competing with Tesla's full self-driving software in the next five years, the company's market position may be threatened, prompting investors to carefully assess its long-term growth potential.
See More
Musk Predicts Widespread Adoption of Tesla's Robotaxi Service
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Musk predicts that Tesla's robotaxi service will be widely launched across multiple U.S. cities by the end of this year, a forecast based on current market dynamics, which, if realized, would provide strong competitive confidence to investors, especially against Waymo.
- Competitive Pressure: Although Tesla lags behind Waymo in the robotaxi sector, which averages 450,000 paid rides per week, Tesla's rapid expansion plans could alter the market landscape and attract more investor attention.
- Valuation Risks: Tesla's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 390 times, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average of 26 times, which requires investors to have extreme confidence in Tesla's technological leadership and future market dominance, yet this confidence may face real challenges.
- Cautious Investment Advice: While widespread growth of the robotaxi business could serve as a catalyst for Tesla's stock price, investors should adopt a wait-and-see approach rather than rushing to buy based on expectations, given the high valuation and Musk's ambitious targets.
See More
Investors Focus on Tesla's Autonomous Future Amid Revenue Concerns
- Data Collection Capability: Tesla owners are collecting the equivalent of 500 years' worth of driving data daily, rapidly enhancing the performance of its full self-driving system and driving demand for this add-on feature, which is expected to strengthen the company's market competitiveness.
- FSD User Growth: In the fourth quarter, the number of Tesla owners using the full self-driving feature grew by 38% year-over-year to over 1.1 million, providing robust support for Tesla's future revenue growth.
- Cybercab Production Plans: Tesla is set to begin production of the Cybercab, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, this year, signaling rapid expansion of its robotaxi service, which, if successful, will significantly boost the company's profitability.
- Regulatory Challenges: Despite the potential expansion of Tesla's robotaxi service, the NHTSA's sales cap of 2,500 vehicles for those not meeting safety standards could delay Cybercab production plans, thereby impacting the stock's upside potential.
See More
Tesla's Investor Update Sparks Market Interest
- Strategic Shift: Tesla's announcement of a $20 billion investment to build six new factories by 2026, despite skepticism about its EV strategy, actually reflects a commitment to accelerate its transition towards the future transportation market, showcasing the company's strong belief in electric mobility.
- Future Vision: Musk stated during the earnings call that the vast majority of miles driven will be autonomous, positioning Tesla as a transportation-as-a-service company, with expectations that the Cybercab will outsell all other models combined in the future.
- Cash Flow Risks: Although Tesla has $44 billion in cash and investments to support its spending, it is projected to face a $6.2 billion cash outflow in 2026, and early investments in Cybercab and Optimus could strain finances, increasing overall risk.
- Competitive Pressure: Tesla's full self-driving software may face competition from Nvidia in the next five years, and delays in regulatory approvals create uncertainty for its robotaxi plans; nevertheless, this situation continues to attract high-risk investors looking for potential upside.
See More
S&P 500 Index Could Reach 15,000 by 2030
- Future Growth Outlook: Tom Lee from Fundstrat predicts that the S&P 500 index will reach 15,000 by 2030, implying a 120% upside from its current level of 6,830, presenting significant potential returns for investors.
- ETF Investment Advantage: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF provides exposure to approximately 80% of U.S. equities and 50% of global equities by market value, offering broad access to many of the world's most influential stocks, particularly in the technology sector, enhancing portfolio diversity and potential returns.
- Strong Historical Performance: Over the past two decades, the S&P 500 has advanced 439%, compounding at an annual rate of 8.7%, and with dividends included, the total return reached 700%, compounding at 10.9%, demonstrating the wealth creation capability of long-term holding.
- Generational Wealth Transfer: Millennials are set to inherit $80 trillion and are reshaping the economy as they enter their peak earning years, combined with a predicted global labor shortage, which is expected to drive demand for technology stocks, further boosting the performance of the S&P 500 index.
See More
Investors Focus on Tesla's Autonomous Future Amid Revenue Concerns
- Data Collection for FSD: Tesla owners are collecting the equivalent of 500 years of driving data daily, significantly enhancing the performance of its full self-driving (FSD) system, which has seen a 38% year-over-year increase in users to over 1.1 million in Q4, indicating strong future revenue potential.
- Cybercab Production Plans: Tesla is set to begin production of its Cybercab, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, this year, signaling a rapid expansion of its robotaxi service, although it faces NHTSA's annual sales cap on non-compliant vehicles.
- Market Expansion Strategy: The company plans to launch the Model Y as a robotaxi in seven new cities, including Las Vegas and Miami, in the first half of 2026, which is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Earnings Growth Expectations: Analysts project Tesla's earnings to grow at a 35% annualized rate over the next few years as higher margins from robotaxis begin to materialize, suggesting potential for further stock price increases.
See More
Tesla's Investor Update Shifts Market Perception
- Strategic Shift: Tesla's commitment of $20 billion to build six new factories by 2026, while criticized as a departure from electric vehicles, actually supports its vision for future autonomous driving and transportation services, thereby reinforcing its dominance in the EV market.
- Increased Cash Flow Risk: Tesla is projected to face a $6.2 billion cash outflow in 2026, and although the CFO claims the company has $44 billion in cash and investments to fund spending, this significant investment could strain financial health in the short term, impacting investor confidence.
- Regulatory Challenges: The deployment of Tesla's robotaxis lacks regulatory approval outside Texas, rendering its business model uncertain and increasing investment risks, as the company cannot control the approval process.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With Nvidia potentially competing with Tesla's full self-driving software in the next five years, the company's market position may be threatened, prompting investors to carefully assess its long-term growth potential.
See More
Musk Predicts Widespread Adoption of Tesla's Robotaxi Service
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Musk predicts that Tesla's robotaxi service will be widely launched across multiple U.S. cities by the end of this year, a forecast based on current market dynamics, which, if realized, would provide strong competitive confidence to investors, especially against Waymo.
- Competitive Pressure: Although Tesla lags behind Waymo in the robotaxi sector, which averages 450,000 paid rides per week, Tesla's rapid expansion plans could alter the market landscape and attract more investor attention.
- Valuation Risks: Tesla's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 390 times, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average of 26 times, which requires investors to have extreme confidence in Tesla's technological leadership and future market dominance, yet this confidence may face real challenges.
- Cautious Investment Advice: While widespread growth of the robotaxi business could serve as a catalyst for Tesla's stock price, investors should adopt a wait-and-see approach rather than rushing to buy based on expectations, given the high valuation and Musk's ambitious targets.
See More
Investors Focus on Tesla's Autonomous Future Amid Revenue Concerns
- Data Collection Capability: Tesla owners are collecting the equivalent of 500 years' worth of driving data daily, rapidly enhancing the performance of its full self-driving system and driving demand for this add-on feature, which is expected to strengthen the company's market competitiveness.
- FSD User Growth: In the fourth quarter, the number of Tesla owners using the full self-driving feature grew by 38% year-over-year to over 1.1 million, providing robust support for Tesla's future revenue growth.
- Cybercab Production Plans: Tesla is set to begin production of the Cybercab, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, this year, signaling rapid expansion of its robotaxi service, which, if successful, will significantly boost the company's profitability.
- Regulatory Challenges: Despite the potential expansion of Tesla's robotaxi service, the NHTSA's sales cap of 2,500 vehicles for those not meeting safety standards could delay Cybercab production plans, thereby impacting the stock's upside potential.
See More
Tesla's Investor Update Sparks Market Interest
- Strategic Shift: Tesla's announcement of a $20 billion investment to build six new factories by 2026, despite skepticism about its EV strategy, actually reflects a commitment to accelerate its transition towards the future transportation market, showcasing the company's strong belief in electric mobility.
- Future Vision: Musk stated during the earnings call that the vast majority of miles driven will be autonomous, positioning Tesla as a transportation-as-a-service company, with expectations that the Cybercab will outsell all other models combined in the future.
- Cash Flow Risks: Although Tesla has $44 billion in cash and investments to support its spending, it is projected to face a $6.2 billion cash outflow in 2026, and early investments in Cybercab and Optimus could strain finances, increasing overall risk.
- Competitive Pressure: Tesla's full self-driving software may face competition from Nvidia in the next five years, and delays in regulatory approvals create uncertainty for its robotaxi plans; nevertheless, this situation continues to attract high-risk investors looking for potential upside.
See More
S&P 500 Index Could Reach 15,000 by 2030
- Future Growth Outlook: Tom Lee from Fundstrat predicts that the S&P 500 index will reach 15,000 by 2030, implying a 120% upside from its current level of 6,830, presenting significant potential returns for investors.
- ETF Investment Advantage: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF provides exposure to approximately 80% of U.S. equities and 50% of global equities by market value, offering broad access to many of the world's most influential stocks, particularly in the technology sector, enhancing portfolio diversity and potential returns.
- Strong Historical Performance: Over the past two decades, the S&P 500 has advanced 439%, compounding at an annual rate of 8.7%, and with dividends included, the total return reached 700%, compounding at 10.9%, demonstrating the wealth creation capability of long-term holding.
- Generational Wealth Transfer: Millennials are set to inherit $80 trillion and are reshaping the economy as they enter their peak earning years, combined with a predicted global labor shortage, which is expected to drive demand for technology stocks, further boosting the performance of the S&P 500 index.
See More
Investors Focus on Tesla's Autonomous Future Amid Revenue Concerns
- Data Collection for FSD: Tesla owners are collecting the equivalent of 500 years of driving data daily, significantly enhancing the performance of its full self-driving (FSD) system, which has seen a 38% year-over-year increase in users to over 1.1 million in Q4, indicating strong future revenue potential.
- Cybercab Production Plans: Tesla is set to begin production of its Cybercab, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, this year, signaling a rapid expansion of its robotaxi service, although it faces NHTSA's annual sales cap on non-compliant vehicles.
- Market Expansion Strategy: The company plans to launch the Model Y as a robotaxi in seven new cities, including Las Vegas and Miami, in the first half of 2026, which is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Earnings Growth Expectations: Analysts project Tesla's earnings to grow at a 35% annualized rate over the next few years as higher margins from robotaxis begin to materialize, suggesting potential for further stock price increases.
See More
