As NHTSA Opens Tesla FSD Investigation, Gary Black Says Elon Musk's EV Giant Needs PR Staff: 'For Years I've Argued…' - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Core Insights - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, highlighting the need for improved public relations efforts from the company [1][2] - Tesla CEO Elon Musk's new compensation package could potentially make him the world's first trillionaire, with milestones tied to autonomous driving, including 10 million active FSD subscriptions and 1 million Robotaxis in operation [3] - Mixed reactions have emerged regarding Tesla's affordable Model Y and Model 3 trim levels, with some analysts expressing disappointment over their pricing relative to existing variants [4] Group 1: Regulatory and PR Needs - Gary Black, managing director of Future Fund LLC, emphasized the necessity for Tesla to hire a PR team to counter regulatory challenges, particularly in light of NHTSA's investigation [2] - Jonathan Morrison, the NHTSA leader appointed by President Trump, has called for increased oversight of the autonomous driving sector, indicating a proactive regulatory stance [2] Group 2: Financial and Operational Goals - Elon Musk's compensation package includes ambitious targets related to Tesla's autonomous driving capabilities, which could lead to significant financial rewards even if certain goals are not met [3] - The FSD system's definition has been revised by Tesla, which may impact the company's operational strategies moving forward [3] Group 3: Market Reactions and Product Strategy - Analysts have provided mixed feedback on Tesla's pricing strategy for the Model Y and Model 3, with suggestions that alternative models could have been introduced instead [4] - Ross Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, criticized the decision to not include a steering wheel in the Cybercab, indicating potential missed opportunities in product development [4] Group 4: Performance Metrics - Tesla is noted to perform well in Momentum and Growth metrics, while showing satisfactory Quality but poor Value, with a favorable price trend observed in the short, medium, and long term [5]