Tesla (TSLA) shares are rising in pre-market trading today, building on Thursday’s 4.08% gain. Much of the recent rally was fueled by the White House backing the development of humanoid robots, including Tesla’s Optimus. Investors also responded positively to the company’s strong wholesale sales numbers from China, which climbed 10% year-over-year. TSLA stock is up by 0.90% in the pre-market session on Thursday.
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Tesla’s Optimus Is in Focus
Market reports suggest that the U.S. government may issue a new executive order in 2026 to speed up the country’s robotics industry. It’s still unclear what the order could include or even if it will happen, but reports hint that it may focus on making it easier to build and sell robots in the U.S., while also shielding American companies from growing competition from China. If that happens, it could benefit Tesla and its robotics plans.
For context, Optimus is a general-purpose humanoid robot being developed by Tesla. Optimus is part of Tesla’s broader strategy to push beyond EVs into real-world robotics. Notably, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has frequently highlighted robotics as the next major growth opportunity for the company.
Additionally, analyst Dan Levy from Barclays believes robotics is now a key area of rivalry between the U.S. and China. Levy noted that companies want more federal funding and tax incentives to expand automation and supply chains. He also pointed out that stronger government support for robotics could increase investor interest in Tesla’s Optimus, which may reach commercial sales as early as 2026.
Tesla’s China Turnaround
Investors are also cheering the latest November EV sales data from China. Recently, Tesla posted a near 10% jump in November deliveries versus the same month last year, according to the Passenger Car Association. The boost follows an unexpected slowdown by its biggest rival, BYD (BYDDF), which reported its third straight month of falling sales.
The rebound comes after Tesla reported a 10% year-over-year drop in October.
Is Tesla a Good Share to Buy?
According to TipRanks, TSLA stock has received a Hold consensus rating, with 14 Buys, 12 Holds, and nine Sells assigned in the last three months. The average Tesla stock price target is $291.31, suggesting a potential downside of over 10% from the current level.
