Automakers Face Challenges as EV Investments Plummet
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 01 2026
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Should l Buy TSLA?
Source: Newsfilter
- Investment Decline: According to Atlas Public Policy, automakers and battery manufacturers have invested over $200 billion in EV and battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S. since 2000, with about 40% concentrated in the South; however, as EV sales plummet, many companies have canceled plans, leaving the investment outlook uncertain.
- Hyundai's Transformation: Hyundai Motor Group's $12.6 billion EV factory in Georgia was expected to create 8,500 jobs by 2031, but following the removal of federal incentives, EV sales dropped 50% in Q4, prompting the company to announce an additional $2.7 billion investment to increase production and shift towards a mix of hybrids and EVs.
- Massive Write-Downs Expected: John Murphy of Haig Partners estimates that U.S. automakers may face at least $100 billion in write-downs on EV investments, with Ford and GM already announcing charges of $19.5 billion and $7.6 billion respectively, highlighting the high risks associated with EV investments.
- Market Forecast Adjustments: The Biden administration initially aimed for 50% of new car sales to be EVs by 2030, but this target has been revised down to 17%, affecting Bosch's $250 million investment in South Carolina, which now requires adjustments to production plans to align with the shifting market demands.
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Analyst Views on TSLA
Wall Street analysts forecast TSLA stock price to rise
30 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
11 Hold
7 Sell
Hold
Current: 381.260
Low
25.28
Averages
401.93
High
600.00
Current: 381.260
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.
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- Production and Deliveries: During the same quarter, Tesla produced 408,386 vehicles, with Model 3/Y deliveries at 341,893 and other models at 16,130, highlighting sustained demand for core models, but the overall shortfall may impact investor confidence.
- Future Outlook: Analysts project Tesla's deliveries to reach 1.69 million in 2026, 1.88 million in 2027, and 2.13 million in 2028, with expectations of surpassing 3 million vehicles by 2030, which could attract investor interest given the long-term growth outlook.
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See More
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- Weak Delivery Expectations: Wall Street anticipates Tesla will report approximately 365,645 global deliveries in Q1, while independent researcher Troy Teslike projects around 375,000 vehicles, both figures falling short of last year's 336,681 deliveries, highlighting diminishing market confidence in Tesla.
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- Massive IPO Potential: SpaceX is projected to reach a valuation of $1.75 trillion, and if it goes public, it would become the largest IPO in market history, expected to have a profound impact on space-related stocks, similar to Tesla's influence on the electric vehicle market.
- Stock Price Surge: Following the news of SpaceX's impending IPO, stocks of companies like AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, and Firefly Aerospace surged by 12%, 11.78%, and nearly 20% respectively, reflecting growing market confidence in the space economy.
- Reduced Launch Costs: SpaceX's reusable rocket technology is set to significantly lower launch costs, with traditional launches costing up to $1.5 billion compared to SpaceX's average of $62 million, and further reductions are anticipated, promoting sustainable growth in the aerospace industry.
See More
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- Market Dynamics: By the end of 2026, EVs are expected to make up 15% of off-lease used vehicles, up from just 7.7% in Q1 2023, indicating rapid changes in the EV market and its potential impact on Ford Credit.
- Industry Loss Estimates: Experts predict that the resale value of off-lease EVs will be around $10,000 less than projected, leading to an estimated industry-wide loss of about $8 billion in 2028, posing challenges for Ford and its competitors Tesla and General Motors.
See More
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- EV Residual Value Risk: With nearly 800,000 EVs expected to flood the market by 2028, industry experts predict these vehicles will resell for about $10,000 less than projected, potentially leading to an industry-wide loss of approximately $8 billion, posing significant financial pressure on Ford Credit.
- Leasing Market Dynamics: Ford's performance in the EV leasing market is relatively weak, with only 52,000 EV leases last year compared to 228,000 for Tesla and 102,000 for General Motors, which may impact Ford's future profitability due to market share disparities.
- Investor Watchpoint: Although the current situation is less severe than the 2008 crisis, the residual value issues of EVs warrant close attention from investors, as they could unexpectedly affect Ford's financial health in the coming years.
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