Tesla Expects Austin Robotaxi Fleet to Double Next Month
Institutional investors and professional traders rely on The Fly to keep up-to-the-second on breaking news in the electric vehicle and clean energy space, as well as which stocks in these sectors that the best analysts on Wall Street are saying to buy and sell.From the hotly-debated high-flier Tesla, Wall Street's newest darling Rivian, traditional-stalwarts turned EV-upstarts GMand Fordto the numerous SPAC-deal makers that have come public in this red-hot space, The Fly has you covered with "Charged," a weekly recap of the top stories and expert calls in the sector.Clickto check out Tesla's recent Media Buzz Sentiment as measured by TipRanks.AUSTIN ROBOTAXI:Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in aon X that the Tesla Robotaxi fleet in Austin "should roughly double next month."SALES PRESSURES:While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has spent much of the year focused on robotics pursuits and winning shareholder approval of his pay package, the outlook for the company's main business of selling cars is darkening, Nick Carey and Abhirup Roy of Reuters. Tesla is facing sales pressures in Europe, China, and the United States, with global vehicle deliveries expected to decline 7% this year.WEAKER EV MARKETS:Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh lowered the firm's price target on Outperform-rated Tesla to $475 from $485. The firm reduced estimates for Tesla citing weaker electric vehicle markets in China and the U.S. The company also faces potential posing headwinds for analog in 2026, the firm tells investors in a research note. Mizuho believes China could see electric vehicle demand headwinds as the government reduces subsidies by 50% in 2026.DELIVERY REPORTS:Nioannounced its November delivery results. The company delivered 36,275 vehicles in November, representing an increase of 76.3% year-over-year. The deliveries consisted of 18,393 vehicles from the company's smart electric vehicle brand Nio, 11,794 vehicles from Onvo and 6,088 vehicles from Firefly. Cumulative deliveries reached 949,457 as of November 30.Li Autoannounced that it delivered 33,181 vehicles in November. As of November 30, Li Auto's cumulative deliveries reached 1,495,969. The company expects the monthly production capacity for Li i6 to reach 20,000 units by early next year and plans to release OTA 8.1 in early December 2025.XPengalso announced its vehicle delivery results for November. XPeng delivered 36,728 EVs in November, representing a year-over-year increase of 19%. From January to November, XPeng's cumulative deliveries reached 391,937 units, up 156% year-on-year. XPeng's overseas deliveries from January to November reached 39,773 units, marking a 95% year-on-year increase.Zeekrsaid that in November, the company delivered a total of 63,902 vehicles across its Zeekr and Lynk & Co brands, representing increases of 7.1% year-over-year and 3.7% month-over-month.BUY NIO:Freedom Capital upgraded Nio to Buy from Hold with a price target of $7, up from $6.50. The Chinese EV maker has shown accelerating delivery growth in recent quarters and intends to build on that momentum with the launch of two sub-brands, notes the firm, which believes that rising shipments next year will drive the company's revenue to "new record levels."SLOWER 2026 DEMAND:Macquarie analyst Eugene Hsiao downgraded Nio to Neutral from Outperform with a price target of $5.30, down from $6.70, following the Q3 report. The company issued "weak" Q4 volume guidance of 122,500 units at the midpoint, below its prior outlook of 150,000, partly due to the phase out of government subsidies hurting Onvo demand, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm cut its estimates for Nio on slower market demand in fiscal 2026, saying no new model launches until Q2 means likely weak demand in Q1.
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Nio's Stock Remains Below IPO Price Despite Growth
- Significant Sales Growth: Nio's net sales have more than quadrupled from 2018 to 2024, yet its stock remains below the $6.26 IPO price, indicating a market undervaluation of its future potential.
- Delivery Volume Recovery: In 2024, Nio's deliveries rose by 39%, driven by strong sales of its high-end ET series sedans and Onvo SUVs, suggesting an increasing competitiveness in the Chinese market.
- Improving Profitability: Nio's vehicle margin increased from 9.5% in 2023 to 12.3%, reflecting enhanced pricing power due to market share growth, with expectations of reporting its first adjusted profit in Q4 2025.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Analysts predict Nio's revenue will double from 2024 to 2027, and if valued at 5x forward sales, its stock could rise over 8x by early 2027, highlighting its long-term investment potential.
Tesla Shares Decline: The Impact of Rising Oil Prices No Longer Benefits the Company.
- Tesla Stock Performance: Tesla's stock experienced a decline on Monday, mirroring a broader trend in the stock market.
- Impact of Oil Prices: Despite an initial boost from rising oil prices, Tesla's stock did not sustain its gains and fell along with most other stocks.
NIO Reports Significant Delivery Growth Amid Market Decline
- Significant Delivery Growth: NIO reported delivering 20,797 vehicles in February 2026, reflecting a 57.6% year-over-year increase, with 15,159 units from its premium smart EV brand, indicating strong market demand.
- Cumulative Delivery Milestone: As of February 28, 2026, NIO surpassed 1,045,571 cumulative deliveries, with year-to-date figures reaching 47,979 vehicles, up 77.3% year-over-year, demonstrating the company's ongoing expansion in the EV market.
- Battery Swap Service Popularity: NIO completed 100 million battery swaps, highlighting strong user reliance on its battery swapping model, particularly during the Chinese New Year when daily swap volumes peaked.
- Market Environment Challenges: Despite robust delivery numbers, NIO's stock fell 1.03% in premarket trading on Monday, primarily due to broader market weakness and escalating tensions in the Middle East, reflecting volatility in investor sentiment.
February Deliveries Impacted by Lunar New Year
- Delivery Data Analysis: Firefly delivered 2,657 units in February, down 5.3% month-on-month, marking its second-weakest month since launch in 2025, highlighting the significant impact of the Lunar New Year holiday on China's EV market.
- Flagship Model Performance: Nio's total deliveries reached 20,797 units, up 57.6% year-on-year but down 23% month-on-month, with the ES8 delivering 11,260 units, accounting for 54% of total deliveries, underscoring its central role in the company's profitability.
- Incentive Measures Introduced: To counter seasonal weakness, Nio launched limited-time incentives, including a 10,000 yuan purchase tax subsidy and seven-year low-interest financing, aimed at boosting customer purchase intent and sustaining sales momentum.
- Competitor Dynamics: XPeng and Li Auto also felt the holiday impact, delivering 15,256 and 26,421 units respectively, reflecting sales pressure across the industry during the Spring Festival, while Li Auto is restructuring its retail network through a
NIO Achieves Record Deliveries in February
- Delivery Growth: NIO delivered 20,797 vehicles in February, marking a 57.6% year-over-year increase, with 15,159 from the NIO brand, 2,981 from ONVO, and 2,657 from FIREFLY, indicating strong brand performance and rising market demand.
- Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date deliveries reached 47,979 vehicles, reflecting a 77.3% year-over-year increase, suggesting that the company is enhancing its competitiveness in the EV market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Historic Delivery Milestone: As of February 28, 2026, NIO's cumulative deliveries surpassed 1,045,571 vehicles, signifying sustained growth and increasing market recognition, further solidifying its position in the industry.
- Battery Swap Milestone: NIO achieved 100 million cumulative battery swaps on February 6, 2026, showcasing the success of its battery swapping model, with peak swap volumes during the Chinese New Year holiday indicating strong user demand and an efficient service network.
Chinese Electric Vehicle Sales Plummet Significantly: Implications for Tesla's Stock.
- Chinese EV Sales: Electric vehicle sales in China are experiencing a sluggish start in 2026, indicating potential challenges for the market.
- Tesla's Strategy: In response to the slow sales, Tesla is focusing on a shift towards physical AI technology to enhance its competitive edge.
Nio's Stock Remains Below IPO Price Despite Growth
- Significant Sales Growth: Nio's net sales have more than quadrupled from 2018 to 2024, yet its stock remains below the $6.26 IPO price, indicating a market undervaluation of its future potential.
- Delivery Volume Recovery: In 2024, Nio's deliveries rose by 39%, driven by strong sales of its high-end ET series sedans and Onvo SUVs, suggesting an increasing competitiveness in the Chinese market.
- Improving Profitability: Nio's vehicle margin increased from 9.5% in 2023 to 12.3%, reflecting enhanced pricing power due to market share growth, with expectations of reporting its first adjusted profit in Q4 2025.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Analysts predict Nio's revenue will double from 2024 to 2027, and if valued at 5x forward sales, its stock could rise over 8x by early 2027, highlighting its long-term investment potential.
Tesla Shares Decline: The Impact of Rising Oil Prices No Longer Benefits the Company.
- Tesla Stock Performance: Tesla's stock experienced a decline on Monday, mirroring a broader trend in the stock market.
- Impact of Oil Prices: Despite an initial boost from rising oil prices, Tesla's stock did not sustain its gains and fell along with most other stocks.
NIO Reports Significant Delivery Growth Amid Market Decline
- Significant Delivery Growth: NIO reported delivering 20,797 vehicles in February 2026, reflecting a 57.6% year-over-year increase, with 15,159 units from its premium smart EV brand, indicating strong market demand.
- Cumulative Delivery Milestone: As of February 28, 2026, NIO surpassed 1,045,571 cumulative deliveries, with year-to-date figures reaching 47,979 vehicles, up 77.3% year-over-year, demonstrating the company's ongoing expansion in the EV market.
- Battery Swap Service Popularity: NIO completed 100 million battery swaps, highlighting strong user reliance on its battery swapping model, particularly during the Chinese New Year when daily swap volumes peaked.
- Market Environment Challenges: Despite robust delivery numbers, NIO's stock fell 1.03% in premarket trading on Monday, primarily due to broader market weakness and escalating tensions in the Middle East, reflecting volatility in investor sentiment.
February Deliveries Impacted by Lunar New Year
- Delivery Data Analysis: Firefly delivered 2,657 units in February, down 5.3% month-on-month, marking its second-weakest month since launch in 2025, highlighting the significant impact of the Lunar New Year holiday on China's EV market.
- Flagship Model Performance: Nio's total deliveries reached 20,797 units, up 57.6% year-on-year but down 23% month-on-month, with the ES8 delivering 11,260 units, accounting for 54% of total deliveries, underscoring its central role in the company's profitability.
- Incentive Measures Introduced: To counter seasonal weakness, Nio launched limited-time incentives, including a 10,000 yuan purchase tax subsidy and seven-year low-interest financing, aimed at boosting customer purchase intent and sustaining sales momentum.
- Competitor Dynamics: XPeng and Li Auto also felt the holiday impact, delivering 15,256 and 26,421 units respectively, reflecting sales pressure across the industry during the Spring Festival, while Li Auto is restructuring its retail network through a
NIO Achieves Record Deliveries in February
- Delivery Growth: NIO delivered 20,797 vehicles in February, marking a 57.6% year-over-year increase, with 15,159 from the NIO brand, 2,981 from ONVO, and 2,657 from FIREFLY, indicating strong brand performance and rising market demand.
- Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date deliveries reached 47,979 vehicles, reflecting a 77.3% year-over-year increase, suggesting that the company is enhancing its competitiveness in the EV market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Historic Delivery Milestone: As of February 28, 2026, NIO's cumulative deliveries surpassed 1,045,571 vehicles, signifying sustained growth and increasing market recognition, further solidifying its position in the industry.
- Battery Swap Milestone: NIO achieved 100 million cumulative battery swaps on February 6, 2026, showcasing the success of its battery swapping model, with peak swap volumes during the Chinese New Year holiday indicating strong user demand and an efficient service network.
Chinese Electric Vehicle Sales Plummet Significantly: Implications for Tesla's Stock.
- Chinese EV Sales: Electric vehicle sales in China are experiencing a sluggish start in 2026, indicating potential challenges for the market.
- Tesla's Strategy: In response to the slow sales, Tesla is focusing on a shift towards physical AI technology to enhance its competitive edge.
