Tesla Stock Rises Despite Q1 Miss; Musk Promises Renewed Focus on Company

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) reported weaker-than-expected Q1 earnings, missing both revenue and profit forecasts as vehicle deliveries slumped amid intensifying competition and public backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement. Still, TSLA shares gained 4% in after-hours trading following Musk’s reassurance of greater focus on Tesla moving forward.

The EV giant posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27 on revenue of $19.34 billion, below analyst expectations of $0.42 EPS on $21.4 billion in revenue, according to Investing.com. Automotive revenue dropped 20% year-over-year, while automotive gross margin declined to 12.5% from 17.2% in Q4.

Tesla cited global trade disruptions and evolving policies as factors impacting its cost structure and supply chains. The company said it plans to revise its 2025 guidance during the Q2 update, reflecting uncertainty in demand and manufacturing costs.

Musk, speaking on the earnings call, noted his reduced involvement with government-related matters starting in May, pledging more time to Tesla operations. He reaffirmed his belief that Tesla could become the world’s most valuable company, potentially outpacing the combined worth of the next five largest firms—if execution remains strong.

Additionally, Musk provided an update on the Optimus humanoid robot project, projecting a potential 1 million units produced by 2030, or even earlier in 2029.

Despite disappointing results, Tesla’s long-term vision, including AI-driven robotics and deeper leadership engagement, appears to be restoring some investor confidence.