Core Insights - The electric vehicle (EV) market is shifting from hype-driven investments to a focus on companies with growing demand, scaling production, improving margins, and limited dilution risk. Rivian Automotive and Nio are highlighted as key contenders in this space. Rivian - Rivian is transitioning from a premium EV manufacturer to a mass-market contender with its upcoming R2 vehicle, aimed at the midsize SUV segment, directly competing with Tesla's Model Y [2] - The R2 is expected to have a starting price of $45,000, below the U.S. average new vehicle price of over $50,000, and is slated for launch in the first half of 2026, potentially expanding Rivian's addressable market [3] - Rivian's joint venture with Volkswagen is projected to provide $2.5 billion in capital, allowing the company to license its software-defined vehicle architecture, which could create a high-margin revenue stream [4] - In 2025, Rivian produced 42,284 vehicles and delivered 42,247, achieving a positive consolidated gross profit of $24 million and maintaining a cash balance of $7.1 billion, indicating financial flexibility for the R2 launch [5] Nio - Nio operates at a larger scale than Rivian, delivering 326,028 vehicles in 2025, with a strong start to 2026, achieving a 96.1% year-over-year increase in January deliveries to 27,182 vehicles [6] - The company aims for a 40% to 50% growth in deliveries for 2026, targeting 456,000 to 489,000 vehicles, which could enhance margins and demand in China's competitive EV market [6] - Nio is developing a broad EV ecosystem with three distinct brands: premium Nio, mass-market Onvo, and entry-level Firefly, alongside a dense battery-swap network that dominates the global market with over 2,300 stations [7]

Group 1 - VinFast plans to deliver 86,557 electric vehicles globally by Q4 2025 [1] - The company aims to expand its market presence and compete in the global electric vehicle sector [1] - VinFast's strategy includes increasing production capacity and enhancing its product lineup [1] Group 2 - The electric vehicle market is experiencing significant growth, with increasing consumer demand and government incentives [1] - VinFast's entry into the global market aligns with the industry's shift towards sustainable transportation solutions [1] - The company is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing trend of electrification in the automotive industry [1]

Tesla Stock Stalls. Investors Are Waiting for the Optimus Robot. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Tesla Stock Really Needs the Optimus RobotBy [Al Root]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article[TSLA][SPX][DJIA]Coming into Wednesd ...

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) is included among the 12 Best HVAC Stocks to Buy Now. Oppenheimer Sees Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK)'s Operational Gains Largely Priced In On January 20, Oppenheimer analyst Noah Kaye downgraded Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) to Perform from Outperform. The firm pointed to Rockwell’s steady progress on operational excellence initiatives. The company has delivered meaningful margin expansion despite weak end markets and has outlined a technology roadmap that su ...

Core Insights - The company reported a total of 135,362 vehicle sales in the U.S. for the last month, reflecting a 5.3% decline compared to the same period last year [1] Company Performance - The total vehicle sales figure indicates a decrease in performance year-over-year, which may impact the company's market position and revenue projections [1] Industry Context - The decline in vehicle sales could suggest broader challenges within the automotive industry, potentially influenced by market demand, supply chain issues, or economic conditions [1]

Core Insights - Rivian is facing challenges including the end of federal support for EVs, increased hybrid vehicle sales, and significant cash burn rates, but the CEO emphasizes that the situation is more complex than it appears [1] Vehicle Performance and Features - The R1 model is the best-selling premium electric SUV in the U.S. and has also been a top seller in California, with the R1S starting at nearly $80,000 [2] - The upcoming R2 model is designed to be a more affordable option, targeting the midsize, mid-price SUV EV market, with a starting price of $45,000 [9] - The R2 features a familiar design language, five seats, and is described as agile and capable of off-road driving, though not as extreme as the R1 [3][4][6] Cost Structure and Manufacturing - Rivian has significantly reduced the number of computing units in its vehicles from over 60 in traditional cars to seven in the R2, which has also led to a reduction in wiring length by 2 miles [7] - The company has achieved a dramatic reduction in the cost structure, enabling a ramp-up in production volume while maintaining a focus on quality and customer satisfaction [8][9] Market Outlook and Financials - Analysts are divided on Rivian's ability to compete with Tesla, with expectations of selling around 15,000 R2 units in 2026, although some believe this number could be exceeded [10] - Rivian burned through $3 billion in cash in the first three quarters of 2025, with projections of burning $5 billion in 2026, but has secured a $5 billion deal with Volkswagen that could bring in an additional $2 billion [11][12] - The company aims to capture significant market share with the R2, similar to the R1, which could lead to production challenges if demand exceeds supply [13]

Jeffry BartashJeffry Bartash is a reporter for MarketWatch in Washington. ...

Core Viewpoint - Tony Stewart Racing NHRA drivers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan are set to unveil new Dodge race car graphics at the 2026 NHRA Gatornationals, scheduled for March 5-8 in Gainesville, Florida, marking the start of the racing season [1][2]. Group 1: Driver Highlights - Leah Pruett, a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel event winner, returns to competition after a two-year hiatus for maternity leave, eager to reclaim her competitive edge [1][2]. - Matt Hagan, a four-time world Funny Car champion, enters his 19th season with a total of 55 career wins in Dodge Funny Cars, having finished as runner-up in the 2025 standings [1][2]. Group 2: Event Details - The NHRA Gatornationals will feature qualifying runs on March 6 and 7, with final eliminations scheduled for March 8 [1][2]. - The event marks the season opener for the NHRA, showcasing the new Dodge race car graphics and the competitive spirit of the drivers [1][2]. Group 3: Team and Ownership - Tony Stewart, the team owner and a motorsports legend, will also compete in the Top Fuel class in 2026, having previously replaced Pruett in the TSR Dodge dragster during her absence [1][2]. - Stewart's involvement includes a return to NASCAR, where he will participate in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series under Ram's Free Agent program [1][2]. Group 4: Dodge Brand Overview - Dodge continues to innovate with its next-generation lineup, including the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, emphasizing performance and customization [1][2][3]. - The Dodge brand has a legacy of over 112 years, focusing on performance and customer care through its Mopar division, which provides genuine parts and accessories [2][3].

Core Insights - NIO Inc. reported a significant increase in vehicle deliveries for January 2026, with a total of 27,182 vehicles delivered, marking a 96.1% year-over-year growth [1][7] - The company surpassed 1 million cumulative deliveries, highlighting its growth trajectory and commitment to investing in smart EV technologies and infrastructure [3][7] Delivery Performance - NIO's January 2026 deliveries included 20,894 vehicles from the premium NIO brand, 3,481 from the ONVO brand, and 2,807 from the FIREFLY brand [1][7] - Cumulative deliveries reached 1,024,774 units as of January 31, 2026 [1] Product and Technology Updates - On January 28, 2026, NIO launched the latest version of its NIO WorldModel, enhancing assisted driving, smart parking, and active safety features across more than 460,000 vehicles [2][7] - The upgrade introduced full closed-loop reinforcement learning for improved modeling of driving scenarios [2] Competitive Landscape - In comparison, XPeng Inc. delivered 20,011 vehicles in January 2026, a decrease from 30,350 units in January 2025, while Li Auto Inc. reported 27,668 vehicles delivered, down from 29,927 vehicles year-over-year [4][5] - Li Auto's cumulative deliveries reached 1,567,883 units as of January 31, 2026 [5] Valuation and Market Position - NIO's shares have underperformed compared to the Zacks Automotive-Foreign industry, with a 1.1% increase in share price over the past six months, while the industry grew by 14.8% [6] - The company is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 0.47, which is lower than the industry's ratio of 0.61, indicating potential undervaluation [8] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIO's loss per share for 2025 and 2026 has widened by a penny and 13 cents, respectively, over the past 60 days [9]

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation holds a hearing Wednesday on autonomous vehicles. Witnesses testifying at the hearing include: Lars Moravy, vice president of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla; Dr. Mauricio Peña, chief safety officer at Waymo; Jeff Farrah, CEO of Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association; and Bryant Walker Smith, associate professor of law at the University of South Carolina. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/42d859g ...