Tesla faces challenges, tariff chaos begins, and an electric vehicle startup reaches a significant milestone.

Over the past 13 years, I have closely followed the evolution of Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, observing their ups and downs, obstacles, and comebacks. Musk, known for his adventurous spirit, has revealed how close the company came to declaring bankruptcy before managing to turn the situation around. This "us against them" narrative has made Musk an emblem of innovation. His political alignment with President Trump, and his role as an unofficial leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, have transformed public perception of him.

However, Tesla faces significant challenges, including a decrease in first-quarter sales, global protests, and a drop in its stock value. Automakers, historically lagging behind Tesla in electric vehicle sales, are seizing this opportunity by offering attractive trade-in deals and other incentives. Journalist Rebecca Bellan has documented recent events that have impacted Tesla, and her article will be updated periodically.

Tesla's ability to regain its position remains uncertain. The recent tariffs announced by Trump could benefit the company, as its vehicles and many of its components are produced in the U.S. However, this may not be enough to stop the decline, and the tariffs are likely to negatively affect its energy storage business. Confusion surrounding these tariffs will persist, and we are beginning to glimpse how automakers are adjusting. Companies like Ford are trying to get ahead by offering temporary discounts to boost sales, while Volkswagen has informed its dealers that it plans to add an import cost to vehicles sold in the U.S.

There are rumors that Tesla is set to launch a robotaxi service in Austin this summer, although its engagement with the city has been limited. Competitors like Waymo and Cruise (when the latter was operational) have made efforts to connect with local stakeholders before launching their services. Some government officials have expressed concerns about the safety of Tesla's autonomy, believing that the brand's vehicles may have a limited perception of their surroundings by relying solely on cameras instead of lidar and radar.

In terms of investments, the week has been relatively quiet, but a few have stood out. EVident Battery, a battery inspection technology startup from Massachusetts, managed to raise $3.2 million in a seed funding round led by Ibex Investors. Additionally, Fourier, a hydrogen startup, raised $18.5 million in its Series A funding round.

In the electric vehicle and battery development space, Harbinger, a medium-duty electric vehicle manufacturer, has officially started production with its first 100 units, a significant milestone for the California startup. At the same time, the company has intervened in Canoo's bankruptcy proceedings by objecting to the sale of the company's assets to its CEO, which could complicate the ongoing case. Rivian, for its part, reported delivering only 8,640 vehicles in the first three months of 2025, its lowest figure since late 2022, although it expects to reach between 46,000 and 51,000 deliveries by the year's end. Finally, Redwood Materials, the battery materials and recycling startup founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, has opened a research and development center in San Francisco.