Tesla Inc. shares surged 3.10% on Jan. 6 2026 driven by Trump endorsements and Musk optimism.

Tesla Inc. shares surged 3.10% in pre-market trading on Jan. 6, 2026, driven by renewed investor optimism following high-profile endorsements and strategic developments. The rally coincided with President Donald Trump’s public praise for CEO Elon Musk, who reciprocated with a social media post signaling confidence in the company’s future.

The momentum came amid ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot project, which remains central to Musk’s long-term vision. While the initiative has been touted as a potential “infinite revenue” driver, technical hurdles persist, including challenges in replicating human dexterity and transitioning from hand-assembled prototypes to scalable production. Internal debates about the robot’s practicality in manufacturing further highlight the project’s complexities.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s core automotive business continues to face headwinds. Fourth-quarter 2025 vehicle deliveries fell 16% year-over-year, with annual sales slipping 9%, ceding the global EV sales crown to BYD. Despite recent stock rebounds tied to AI and robotics optimism, the company’s ability to stabilize demand and deliver on ambitious targets will remain critical for sustaining investor confidence in the coming months.

Analysts remain divided on how quickly Tesla can balance its robotics ambitions with the immediate demands of its automotive division. While the Optimus project symbolizes a bold technological leap, some question whether it will translate into meaningful revenue within the next 3-5 years. Meanwhile, BYD’s aggressive EV production and cost advantages continue to pose a significant challenge to Tesla’s market leadership.

Looking ahead, key events such as Tesla’s Q1 2026 earnings release and the next iteration of Optimus demonstration are expected to play pivotal roles in shaping investor sentiment. If Tesla can demonstrate tangible progress in both robotics and EV production efficiency, it may reclaim some of the momentum lost to rivals in the past year.