TSLA: Tesla Stock Jumps 5.7% as Musk and Trump Cozy Up. Also — Robotaxi Launch Got a Date

Save the date — June 22 is when the first Cybercabs will likely start ferrying passengers around Texas in what could be a pivotal moment for Musk’s driverless cars vision.

🚀 Tesla Revs Up 5.7% on Robotaxi Buzz

• Tesla stock TSLA surged nearly 6% on Tuesday shortly before CEO Elon Musk floated June 22 as the launch date for its long-awaited robotaxi gig in Austin, Texas — a major milestone for Musk’s autonomous vehicle (do we call this AV now?) ambitions.
• A video circulating on social media on Tuesday showed a fully driverless Tesla cruising around Austin, fueling speculation. While the EV giant didn’t respond to requests for comment, Musk jumped in with posts and replies on X, stoking investor excitement.
• The billionaire tempered expectations by saying the June 22 launch date was “tentative” and hit on Tesla’s focus on safety: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

🍀 Feud Over, Bromance Back On?

• Another catalyst for the share price sobering up after a brutal 14% single-day slide last week: Trump and Musk appear to be patching things up. The US President said Monday he wishes Musk “well” and has no plans to discontinue Starlink at the White House, despite the recent spat.
• Musk responded with a heart emoji, signaling the feud might be over — at least for now — and restoring confidence among Tesla’s politically sensitive investors. Early on Wednesday, he said he regretted some posts he made last week when all the world was watching (Musk deleted a few posts, too).
• The détente could ease regulatory and political risk for Tesla, especially as the company expands deeper into government-sensitive technologies like satellite internet and autonomous driving.

🧐 Tesla’s Comeback Story: 🏜️

• Despite Tuesday’s rally, Tesla shares are still down 14% year-to-date, weighed down by macro, rising competition, and investor frustration over delays in major launches or innovation.
• The robotaxi rollout could be a game-changer if successful, potentially opening up new revenue streams and transforming the perception of Tesla’s AI and software capabilities.
• But there’s still skepticism — especially around safety concerns, regulatory hurdles, and public trust in autonomous tech. All eyes are now on June 22. Will the Cybercab deliver?