Why Tesla Stock Popped Thursday
Key Points
Tesla is reported to have sold 1,000 or even 2,000 Cybertrucks to SpaceX.
Math suggests that Tesla has had trouble selling Cybertrucks to customers that Elon Musk does not own.
- These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stock jumped 4.5% through 1:45 p.m. ET Thursday on some apparently bad news -- that might turn out to be good news for Tesla stock, and for SpaceX stock, too (once SpaceX IPOs).
As EV news specialist Electrek reports, deep in the heart of Texas, Elon Musk's SpaceX is snapping up tens of millions of dollars' worth of Tesla Cybertrucks to work at its Starbase spaceport.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Image source: Tesla.
How is this bad news?
Electrek explains: Tesla originally planned to build 250,000 Cybertrucks a year, ramping as high as 500,000 units per year if the demand justified it.
But demand didn't justify it.
Crunching the numbers on Tesla's non-Model 3 and non-Model Y sales (Tesla groups S, X, and Cybertruck sales all together), Electrek calculates Tesla sold perhaps 20,000 Cybertrucks this year, turning Cybertruck into a gigantic "commercial flop."
Except for one thing: SpaceX.
Squeezing corporate lemons and turning them into lemonade, Musk's SpaceX rode to the rescue of Musk's Tesla, buying between 1,000 and 2,000 Cybertrucks for SpaceX's work fleet. At $80,000 per unit, that's $80 million to $160 million in revenue for Tesla.
Turning bad news into good news
Electrek sees this as bad news and a potential concern to investors in an upcoming SpaceX IPO. Viewed another way, though, if SpaceX needs trucks for its ground operations, why wouldn't it buy Cybertrucks from another Musk-owned company, if the alternative is giving money to a Musk competitor like Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) or General Motors (NYSE: GM)?
Seems to me, keeping the money in the family (so to speak) is actually a bright idea.
And if it means Tesla now has a captive customer in SpaceX, which can help Tesla make its sales numbers when it needs to, that's probably a good thing for Tesla stock.
Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
- Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $443,371!*
- Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $51,715!*
- Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $511,196!*
Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.
See the 3 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2025.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
