Tesla(US:TSLA) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-08 01:16Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk has the opportunity to become the world's first trillionaire, contingent on his continued leadership at Tesla for the next ten years and achieving ambitious performance and market value targets [2][12]. Group 1: Compensation Plan - Tesla's board has proposed a new compensation plan for Musk, which will be voted on at the upcoming shareholder meeting on November 6 [3]. - If Musk meets all performance targets, he could earn up to $900 billion in Tesla stock options, effectively doubling his stake in the company to 25% [6][12]. - The plan requires Musk to lead Tesla to a market value of $8.5 trillion over the next decade, which is more than double the current highest market cap of Nvidia [8][10]. Group 2: Shareholder Dynamics - Tesla has a high retail investor ownership rate of 42%, the highest among companies with a market cap over $1 trillion, compared to less than 20% for Google and Meta [5]. - Retail investors have historically supported Musk's high compensation due to their belief in his vision for the company [5]. Group 3: Performance Milestones - Musk must achieve several operational milestones, including increasing operating profit from $17 billion to $400 billion, delivering 20 million Tesla vehicles, and achieving 10 million active Full Self-Driving subscriptions [10][11]. - The performance milestones are structured in a tiered manner, with specific market cap and operational goals linked to stock option awards [9][11]. Group 4: Business Strategy and Future Outlook - Tesla is undergoing a strategic transformation, moving away from traditional electric vehicle sales, which have seen a decline, towards autonomous driving and robotics as future growth drivers [15][16]. - Musk's vision includes significant contributions from autonomous driving and robotics, with expectations that these sectors will account for 80% of Tesla's future value [18][25]. - The recent "Master Plan IV" emphasizes AI and robotics without mentioning new electric vehicle models, indicating a shift in focus for the company [19][21]. Group 5: Challenges Ahead - Achieving the ambitious targets set forth in the new compensation plan may be more challenging than previous plans, especially given the current decline in Tesla's electric vehicle sales [13][15]. - The company faces intense competition in key markets like China and Europe, where local electric vehicle manufacturers are gaining ground [15][16]. - Despite political controversies affecting Tesla's brand, the board has not imposed restrictions on Musk's political activities, indicating a desire to keep him focused on the company's future [25].