Xpeng commercialises smart cockpit, autonomous driving licensing, contrasted with Tesla

U.S. EV sales rose 2.5% in August but were down 46.9% year-over-year, per Cox Automotive. Tesla unveiled the Roadster's launch date for October 1, delayed from 2020. A U.S. regulator questioned Tesla's autonomous vehicle design. Lucid and Bolt partnered on autonomous vehicles, with Lucid facing supplier and production challenges. Rivian's CEO cited supplier constraints as a production bottleneck. GM's hybrid market share lagged behind Toyota and Honda, with dealers reporting customer attrition.

Tesla is considering Fort Bend County for a $10.1 billion solar manufacturing project, called Project Crystal Sun, on a 3,057-acre site. The project could bring a solar cell manufacturing facility to the area. Other local business news includes new bakery and restaurant openings in the Greater Houston area, and a Houston ISD deputy superintendent's resignation.

The Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate to 3.75%-4.00%, with most officials projecting one more hike this year. U.S. stock futures rallied as bond yields fell. Key economic data, including jobless claims and manufacturing indices, are expected later. Pre-market, Arm Holdings (ARM) and other tech stocks advanced, while Fluence Energy (FLNC) dropped after cutting revenue guidance.

Barclays expects Tesla (TSLA) to deliver 475,000 vehicles in Q3, above consensus, citing potential margin boosts from autonomous driving tech. Barclays maintains an 'Equal Weight' rating and $370 price target. Goldman Sachs, however, forecasts lower deliveries at 435,000, citing weak sales in key markets. TSLA shares were down 1% at the time of writing.

Tesla's AI5 chip, designed for advanced autonomous driving, has entered trial production at Samsung's new Texas fab, with volume production expected in 2027. Samsung and TSMC will manufacture the 2nm chips, which will first be used in data centers and Tesla's Optimus robot before being installed in vehicles. Samsung has a $16.5 billion contract for production, and the chip is intended to compete with Nvidia's offerings.

Tesla (TSLA) received a 50% tax break for its $10B Texas solar factory, approved by the Lamar school board. The facility, 'Project Crystal Sun,' aims to boost U.S. solar production. Tesla's energy segment grew 700% since 2019, contributing 13% of 2025 revenue. Increased solar capacity may support Tesla's robotaxi plans by addressing future energy demands.