Tesla Shareholders' $1T Vote of Confidence: Can Musk Deliver?

Core Insights - Tesla shareholders have shown strong support for CEO Elon Musk, with approximately 75% voting in favor of his performance-based pay package valued at around $1 trillion [1][9] - The pay package is tied to ambitious goals, including a market value of $8.5 trillion and the sale of 20 million vehicles by 2035 [2][9] - Tesla's future growth is expected to rely heavily on advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and robotics [3][6] Financial Goals - To unlock the full payout of Musk's compensation, Tesla's adjusted EBITDA must increase 25 times to reach $400 billion by 2035 [2] - The company currently has a market value of just over $1.5 trillion, indicating a significant growth challenge ahead [2] Current Business Challenges - Tesla's core electric vehicle (EV) business is facing difficulties, with a 13% year-over-year sales decline in both Q1 and Q2 of 2025 [5] - The company experienced its first annual delivery decline in 2024, and the loss of U.S. EV tax credits may lead to further sales drops [5][10] - Automotive margins are under pressure due to price cuts, high costs, and tariffs, contributing to a cooling demand for EVs [5][10] Future Vision - Musk envisions a future where Tesla's ecosystem includes autonomous vehicles and AI-powered robots, such as robotaxis and humanoid robots [6][10] - However, current projects like robotaxis still require safety drivers, and humanoid robots have not yet begun taking orders, indicating that these innovations are still in early stages [7] Market Position - Tesla shares have risen approximately 10% year-to-date, underperforming compared to competitors like General Motors and Ford, which have seen increases of 32% and 29%, respectively [11] - Tesla's forward price-to-sales ratio stands at 13.93, significantly higher than the industry average, with General Motors and Ford at 0.35 and 0.32, respectively [12]