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Tesla’s main product is no longer its cars.

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Why Tesla’s core product is no longer its cars

Tesla shares hit a record high in December as its core business continued to go backwards, this suggests its core product is now its stock, rather than electric vehicles.

Tom Richardson

Tesla started selling the Model S sedan in 2012, and the Model X SUV three years later.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumEnd of road for Model S and X as Tesla transitions to robots

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk says the automaker is ending production of its Model S and X vehicles, and will use the factory in Fremont, California, to build Optimus humanoid robots.

Lora Kolodny and Ari Levy

New cars of various brands are parked for export on the parking of a car terminal at the harbour of Duisburg, western Germany.

EconomyCommentsCar sales stall despite economic recovery

Economic recovery and lower interest rates did little to spark demand for new cars in 2025 with sales effectively flat for the year — but one low emissions option bucked the trend.

Matt Mckenzie

BYD Shark 6 utes.

AutomotivePremiumBYD hits sales goal, set to topple Tesla as biggest EV maker

BYD met its full-year sales target and likely surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest EV maker in 2025 - a milestone overshadowed by a challenging outlook for the Chinese auto market in 2026.

Linda Lew, Danny Lee and Bei Hu

Mercedes Benz allegedly installed devices to cheat emissions standards requirements. (AP PHOTO)

BusinessPremiumMercedes-Benz to pay up to settle emissions scandal

Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG will pay millions to settle allegations the company installed devices designed to cheat emission tests.

TODD RICHMOND

The Ford F150 Lightning production line.

AutomotivePremiumWhy Ford is finally parking its big EV blunder

Ford will take $US19.5 billion ($29.4b) in charges tied to a sweeping overhaul of its electric vehicle business after struggling for years to make it profitable.

Keith Naughton and Gabrielle Coppola

Point to the electric car that doesn't go as far as the range sticker says it should. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

AutomotivePremiumCOMING UP SHORT: EVs are failing to go the advertised distance

Battery-powered cars have been found using more energy than promised in independent tests, just like their petrol and diesel peers.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Elon Musk and Michael Burry, who is betting against Tesla's stock.

AutomotivePremiumBig Short’s Burry places bets on bursting Tesla’s bubble

Michael Burry has bet against the shares of Tesla, saying they are “ridiculously overvalued” and warning that founder Elon Musk’s proposed $US1 trillion pay package would worsen shareholder dilution.

Abhishek Vishnoi

Tesla’s campaign to award its chief executive officer a pay package potentially worth $US1 trillion ($1.5t) is drawing to a close, and this much is certain: Elon Musk will take it personally.

AutomotivePremiumMusk’s future on the line as shareholders cast their vote

Tesla’s campaign to award its chief executive officer a pay package potentially worth $US1 trillion ($1.5t) is drawing to a close, and this much is certain: Elon Musk will take it personally.

Kara Carlson and Loukia Gyftopoulou

New sales are trending away from purely petrol-driven vehicles in the latest auto industry snapshot. (Tony McDonough/AAP PHOTOS)

TransportPremiumPetrol low as car buyers flock to hybrid and electric

More buyers of new vehicles are opting to save money on petrol with electric cars and hybrid models proving popular in the latest auto industry snapshot.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

The latest fuel efficiency testing has not delivered good results for some hybrid cars. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

TransportPremiumHybrids, small SUVs revealed as unexpected gas guzzlers

Popular vehicles including petrol-powered SUVs and hybrids are exceeding their advertised fuel consumption by up to 21 per cent, tests have found.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Perron Group chief executive Adam Irving.

Funds managementPremiumPerron Group cites equities, Toyota sales in big profit jump

The WA investment group, profits from which sustain hundreds of charities through the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, said annual earnings leapt 81 per cent to $472.5m.

Sean Smith

Tesla has reported total revenue of $US28.1 billion for the third quarter ended September 30. (EPA PHOTO)

AutomotivePremiumTesla's record third-quarter revenue tops forecasts

"While we face near-term uncertainty from shifting trade, tariff and fiscal policy, we are focused on long-term growth and value creation," Tesla says.

Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy

How Aussies are saving thousands yearly through EV scheme.

AutomotiveCommentsHow Aussies are saving thousands yearly through EV scheme

EVs only have an 8 per cent market share in Australia, but close to half of them are bought in a specific way that is saving Aussies, and businesses, thousands.

Stephen Johnson

The Electric Vehicle Council has released its annual report into the industry. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

TransportPremiumBan on petrol, diesel vehicles urged as EVs set records

Motorists are buying electric vehicles in record numbers but uptake will need to speed up to meet climate targets and experts are calling for change.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Liontown: Kathleen Valley Project.

MiningCommentsPremiumFord in reverse on Liontown lithium

Liontown Resources will not deliver any lithium to car giant Ford until at least 2029 — two years later than planned — amid concerns about a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles.

Danielle Le Messurier and Daniel Newell

Mitsubishi Motors is joining Eagers Automotive’s share register.

AutomotiveCommentsPremiumEagers tips $1 billion into Canadian dealership

Australia’s biggest car retailer is buying Canadian dealer CanadaOne for $1 billion and bringing Japan’s Mitsubishi on to its share register and into its used car business.

Sean Smith

Schaffer Corp provides leather for the interiors of the some of the world’s best known brands, including Range Rover.

AutomotivePremiumLeather producer Schaffer scraps guidance after UK cyber hit

Jaguar Land Rover, Britain’s biggest car maker, is a key customer of WA’s Schaffer Corporation but has been forced out of production by a cyber attack nearly four weeks ago.

Sean Smith

Secondhand buyers are worried about recharging EVs like Tesla.

AutomotiveCommentsWhy EVs have really poor resale value in Australia

Electric cars from the likes of Tesla and BYD are losing half their value in just two years, calling into question the resale value of EVs.

Stephen Johnson

Australia’s most popular electric vehicles may not travel as far as promised, with on-road tests revealing five cars failed to match their lab results.

AutomotiveCommentsThe five electric cars failing to meet distance ads claim

Australia's most popular electric vehicles may not travel as far as promised, with on-road tests revealing five cars failed to match their lab results.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

A number of electric cars have failed to match their lab results for range when tested on the road. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

TransportPremiumEVs pull up short in road test of range claim

Australia's most popular electric vehicles may not travel as far as promised, with on-road tests revealing five cars failed to match their lab results.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Eleven of 30 cars tested on Australian roads consumed 10 per cent or more fuel than expected. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

TransportPremiumSurprise gas guzzlers identified in vehicle road tests

Several popular cars consume more petrol than their manufacturers promise, tests show, and hybrid vehicles are among some of the worst offenders.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Bapcor is behind the Autobarn, Burson, Autopro and Midas brands.

RetailCommentsBapcor falls on weaker-than-expected sales, board exodus

Shares in Autobarn owner Bapcor have shed nearly 30 per cent after revealing its second-half trading performance was weaker than expected in May and June, as well as the sudden exit of three board directors.

Cheyanne Enciso

Almost half of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, a report has revealed. (HANDOUT/BYD)

AutomotivePremiumChina set to dominate Aussie vehicle import market

Almost half of new vehicles sold in Australia could be made in China within a decade, a study has found, as the nation moves to low-emission transport.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson