China Sales Jump 91% as Gigafactory Shanghai Flexes

Tesla’s February performance in the world’s largest EV market just received a massive shot of adrenaline. Sales of China-made vehicles surged 91% year-over-year Reuters. While the percentage jump is eye-popping, it is partially attributed to a low base of comparison from the previous year, yet it underscores Tesla's enduring pricing power and demand stability in a hyper-competitive region.

This growth comes as Chinese domestic rivals continue their aggressive expansion efforts. Recent reports indicate that three major Chinese automakers—BYD, Chery, and Geely—are pushing to enter the Canadian market by 2026, with up to 15 more potentially following suit Automotive News. Tesla’s ability to maintain high volume in China remains the critical buffer against these encroaching global competitors.

The 'Utilize' Coalition: Tesla and Google Reimagining the Grid

Tesla is teaming up with its Silicon Valley neighbor, Google, to fix what they call an "underutilized" electrical grid. On Tuesday, the two companies, along with HVAC giant Carrier and smart panel maker Span, launched the "Utilize" coalition TechCrunch. The group argues that the current grid is built for peak bursts of demand while ignoring the massive idle capacity that could be managed through batteries and virtual power plants (VPPs).

For Tesla, this isn't just about altruism—it’s a massive business play for its Energy division. Utilize will advocate for policies that incentivize battery storage and demand response technologies TechCrunch. By pushing regulators away from centralized fossil fuel plants and toward distributed energy resources, Tesla is effectively lobbying for a future where every Powerwall and Megapack becomes a critical, revenue-generating node of the national infrastructure.

Robotaxi Wars: Amazon’s Zoox hitches a ride with Uber

Tesla’s "Cybercab" ambitions just met a formidable new challenger on the curb. Amazon-owned Zoox announced Wednesday that its purpose-built robotaxis will be available to hail on the Uber app in Las Vegas starting later this year TechCrunch. This "multi-year strategic partnership" also includes a planned rollout in Los Angeles by 2027 Design and Development Today.

Regulatory hurdles remain, as Zoox still needs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to grant exemptions from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for its steering-wheel-less vehicles TechCrunch. However, the partnership gives Zoox immediate access to Uber's massive rider base, challenging Tesla’s plan to launch its own proprietary ride-hailing network. Uber now has partnerships with more than 25 autonomous vehicle companies globally TechCrunch, signaling that the platform, not the car, might be the ultimate winner in the AV race.

Market Watch

TSLA stock is currently trading around the $406.67 mark, maintaining a 1.86% gain from the previous session Forbes. While the stock has enjoyed a significant 80% rally recently, broader market headwinds are surfacing. U.S. stock futures slipped this morning as tensions in Iran escalated and investors braced for upcoming CPI inflation data TipRanks.

Institutional movement remains active; Sands Capital Management recently raised its holdings in Tesla-supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) MarketBeat, while Monolith Management also lifted its TSM position MarketBeat. Conversely, Boeing (BA) shares are sliding following reports of a "machining error" affecting production TipRanks.