Tesla Signs $30B Credit Agreements to Fund AI and Solar Expansion

Tesla Inc. has begun replacing its "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" branding with "Tesla Assisted Driving" across its European websites, following criticism from German officials that the FSD name was potentially misleading because the system still requires driver supervision. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt first flagged the live branding change on X on Oct. 8, and Not a Tesla App subsequently reported that Tesla had adopted the new name across the continent. Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport had said two days earlier that Transport Minister Steffen Bilger wants Tesla's system approved across Europe "in a timely manner," calling the FSD name "somewhat misleading" since the system does not take over the complete driving task and drivers must remain attentive. Tesla offered the rename during talks with German officials over technical and liability issues, Reuters reported, and CEO Elon Musk welcomed Germany's backing with "Danke Schön!" as the company's European approval push gained momentum. The approval remains contested: Reuters reported Germany supports allowing the system to operate up to 10% above detected speed limits, while France and Sweden objected, pushing an EU vote from October to at least December, and eight EU countries had approved the system by Wednesday, with Slovakia saying Thursday it expected to become the ninth within days.

Tesla delivered 95,366 China-made electric vehicles in September, a 5% increase from 90,812 vehicles a year earlier that extended its year-over-year growth streak to 11 consecutive months. The Shanghai factory shipped Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to China, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Canada during the month, according to Reuters, citing the China Passenger Car Association. Third-quarter deliveries from Shanghai rose 13.7%, even as Tesla's worldwide deliveries fell 2.1% from the record-setting quarter last year. To support demand in China, Tesla is offering promotions through October, with selected Model Y versions qualifying for a 7,000-yuan reduction on final payments and every Model 3 variant receiving 5,000 yuan off. The gains come amid intensifying competition in China, where Tesla's retail sales fell 12.4% year-over-year in August to 50,047 units, its weakest August since 2022, leaving it ranked fifth behind market leader BYD with 233,943 units.

Delta Air Lines shares fell about 5% in premarket trading after the carrier reported September-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.72 per share, missing the $1.82 consensus estimate, and lowered its full-year profit outlook to about $5.35 per share. Adjusted revenue rose 16% to $17.59 billion but came in slightly below expectations, with Delta citing elevated fuel costs that surged 62% to $4.14 billion in the quarter; the airline absorbed more than $500 million in additional fuel costs versus its early July guidance and expects $6 billion in higher fuel expenses for the full year. Tesla shares gained about 3.6% after China Passenger Car Association data showed deliveries of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from its Shanghai factory rose 5% year-over-year to 95,366 units in September, extending its streak of annual sales gains to 11 consecutive months, while third-quarter shipments of Shanghai-built vehicles grew 13.7% even as global deliveries declined 2.1%. Apple shares fell about 2.6% in premarket trading on reports it cut component orders for some iPhone 18 Pro models after weaker-than-expected demand, and telecom stocks dropped sharply after SpaceX agreed to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum license, with AT&T down 8%, Verizon Communications down 7.8%, and T-Mobile US down 7.6%, while SpaceX shares rose 4.3%. Ambarella shares rose 5.3% following reports that Qualcomm may be working with advisers on a possible deal to acquire the chip designer, speculation circulated via a Betaville alert that follows prior reports Ambarella is in advanced talks with potential buyers including NXP Semiconductors. Wall Street regained some momentum on Friday, with the S&P 500 up 0.4%, the Dow up 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.5%.