$Tesla(TSLA.US)Tesla's registrations in California fell 24.3% in the first quarter, with intensifying competition in the EV market putting pressure on profits. The robotaxi and robotics businesses are still in the early investment stage and have not yet turned a profit. Tomorrow's earnings report is in danger.
Tesla Misses Again: Collapse of Faith or the Darkest Hour Before Dawn?
"Tesla is down again, where is the bottom this time?"
With the release of Q1 2026 delivery figures, this question is once again being hotly debated in the market. Tesla (TSLA) delivered 358,000 vehicles, below the expected 370,000, and its stock price fell 5% in response. Year-to-date, the decline is close to 17%. The former "faith harvester" is now clearly under pressure.
The core of the issue is that Tesla is experiencing the growing pains of an "identity shift."
On one hand, the car manufacturing business has moved from a high-growth phase to maturity. The Model 3/Y are in the later stages of their product cycles. While the market is full of anticipation for the Cybercab, Optimus, and the new Roadster, current sales still rely on older models. Against the backdrop of slowing global EV demand and subsidy reductions, the logic of supporting a high valuation through car sales alone is weakening.
On the other hand, the AI and robotics businesses remain in the "storytelling" phase. Musk is pushing FSD and Optimus hard, trying to transform Tesla into an AI company, but the reality is: gross margins are still dragged down by the vehicle business, and the profits from AI have yet to truly materialize. Capital markets can accept a vision, but they value the timeline for its realization more.
So, how to judge the bottom? The key is not the price, but the signals.
First, watch whether gross margins stabilize.
Tesla once led its peers with high gross margins, but the ongoing price war continues to erode profit margins. If vehicle-level gross margins can bottom out and rebound in Q2 or Q3 2026, or if FSD subscriptions significantly boost overall profitability, the fundamentals will once again support the stock price.
Second, watch the pace of FSD and Robotaxi deployment.
2026 is seen as the "year of delivery." The mass production of the Cybercab and the commercialization of autonomous driving are key valuation pivots. Further delays will continue to erode market confidence.
Third, watch changes in the competitive landscape.
Current market competition far exceeds that of three years ago. With attacks from both new entrants and traditional automakers, Tesla must prove it still possesses overwhelming cost and efficiency advantages after its first-mover advantage has diminished.
Based on the above logic, my judgment is:
Tesla's "physical bottom" depends on the inflection point in profits, while its "psychological bottom" depends on Musk delivering on the AI narrative.
For long-term investors, the focus should not be on how much the stock price has fallen, but on whether Tesla's core assets—data, algorithms, and computing power—continue to appreciate. If it ultimately remains just an efficient manufacturer, then the valuation re-rating is not over yet.
Every major surge is often preceded by a period of de-foaming. Tesla in 2026 is undergoing a crucial test.
The bottom is not a price, but a turning point in confidence. Until then, patience is more important than trying to catch the bottom.
I used my free time yesterday to finish watching Jensen Huang's speech, a few thoughts:
1、AI development is still accelerating
2、 $NVIDIA(NVDA.US) has united all AI companies to grow the pie together, investment is necessary
3、There are more and more participants in the FSD, Robotaxi, and robotics sectors, requiring a global vision for layout, of course, the first is none other than $Tesla(TSLA.US)!
It's that time of the year again for a review. To be honest, I'm a bit afraid—if I look back and find no growth this year, that would be truly frightening. This year I'm 35, and when a man reaches 35, he really has to look back properly. The first day of the Lunar New Year also happens to be my birthday. Amidst the hustle and bustle, it's a good time to calmly reflect on the past year's life, work, and investments. A birthday gift to myself. 25 years of life and work have been a particularly magical year. There's been pressure and grievances, but also accompanied by too many fresh experiences. Looking back, this year has been incredibly dense. In terms of work...
ELON'S FIRST EVER TALK AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM:
- AI could become smarter than any individual human by the end of this year- We will start selling Optimus to the public by the end of next year- SpaceX will be soon launching solar-powered AI satellites Elon really is pretty excited about the future, he continued to mention that work will be optional and most things will be free...quite the contrast from those that say AI is fake and will result in zero meaningful change for humanity.