- Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate Auto To Take On Tesla: Is Billionaire Now Distancing Himself From Startup?
May 12, 2026
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Slate Auto is among the electric vehicle companies that have tried to take on Tesla Inc over the years. With the backing of billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk rival, Jeff Bezos and a focus on affordability, the company was viewed as a viable threat.
But, the involvement of Bezos may be shrinking ahead of production.
Bezos Backs Away From Slate
Slate Auto hit 150,000 reservations for its flagship electric pickup truck in December 2025. With the backing of Bezos, the company has generated lots of positive attention ahead of releasing the truck, planned to have a low starting price and charge for additional features.
A new report from TechCrunch said Bezos’ involvement with Slate Auto may be shrinking. According to the report, Melinda Lewinson stepped down from the Slate Auto board of directors in the last few months.
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Lewinson is the head of investments for Bezos Expeditions, the investment company of the Amazon.com founder.
Without Lewinson on the board, Bezos would have no direct representation with the startup and would be only an investor. Former Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman previously said Bezos was "pretty hands-off."
The change to the board may have been for several reasons and have nothing to do with Bezos’ belief in the company’s future.
Benzinga reached out to Slate Auto for comment.
Bezos was announced as an investor in Slate Auto for its 2023 funding round, which raised $120 million. A subsequent Series B round with funding of $700 million may have included another investment from Bezos, but Slate did not confirm that.
The most recent funding round for Slate Auto was a $650 million Series C earlier this year. In that round, Bezos was not named as a participating investor.
Slate Auto has several Amazon alumni in key roles, including its new CEO Peter Faricy, who previously served as the vice president of Amazon Marketplace.
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Slate Auto Nears Production
While attention may turn to Bezos and whether he's involved with Slate Auto or even still an investor in the company, the startup is likely focused on its upcoming production.
The company is on track to begin production of the truck by the end of the year at its Indiana factory, according to a report from InsideEVs.
Story Continues
Earlier this week, the company announced several production milestones.
The Slate Auto pickup truck is expected to have a starting price in the mid-$20,000s, above a previous goal of $20,000 with the Federal EV tax credit. While the vehicle will cost more with added features, the price is still expected to be lower than electric pickup trucks already on market, such as Tesla’s Cybertruck.
Image Via Slate Auto
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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
Connect Invest
Connect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans. Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets—helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.
Mode Mobile
Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte's fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. For investors, Mode Mobile offers exposure to the expanding mobile advertising and attention economy through a pre-IPO opportunity tied to a new approach to user monetization.
rHealth
rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.
Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.
Direxion
Direxion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events. Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use—allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.
Immersed
Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments. Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
Masterworks
Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.
Public
Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more—all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.
AdviserMatch
AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.
Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions. Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.
Finance Advisors
Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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- Tesla China Sales Jump 36% In April As Musk-Led Company Files New Roadster Trademark
May 11, 2026
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc reported a 36% year-over-year jump in April sales from its Shanghai factory and filed a new Roadster trademark, but Polymarket bettors still aren’t buying the bull case.
Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory produced 79,478 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in April, up 35.96% year-over-year. The figure counts cars shipped from the factory to dealers for sale within mainland China and for export to overseas markets.
“Tesla is still a strong contender in China’s EV sector, and monthly sales of more than 70,000 units is impressive,” said Eric Han, a senior manager at Shanghai consultancy Suolei. “But it may face difficulties in sustaining its growth momentum in the coming months when brand new models developed by Chinese carmakers attract more Chinese buyers.”
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Chinese rivals BYD Company, Nio Inc and Xpeng Inc showcased dozens of new models at the recent Auto China show in Beijing.
Tesla recently filed a new trademark for a bespoke triangular Roadster badge, the latest of three Roadster filings this year, according to Electrek.
The Roadster is Tesla’s long-promised second-generation electric supercar, first shown as a prototype in 2017 with a $200,000 starting price and a $250,000 Founders Series tier. Production has been pushed back at least eight times since.
On the Q1 earnings call, Musk said Tesla “may be able to debut that in a month or so” but tempered expectations. “I don’t think it moves the needle massively from a revenue standpoint, but it is very cool.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tried to cancel his $45,000 Roadster reservation on X last October, prompting Musk to fire back: “You stole a nonprofit.” Musk’s lawsuit against Altman over OpenAI’s for-profit conversion is set to go to trial next year.
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Despite the catalysts, prediction market traders are pricing in a modest Tesla recovery, not a blowout.
On Polymarket’s Q2 deliveries market, traders give a combined 58% probability to deliveries landing between 375,000 and 450,000 vehicles, a bounce from Q1’s 358,023, but well short of a record.
The longer-term narrative trades are more skeptical. A California Robotaxi launch by June 30 carries 11% odds. An Optimus public sale by the same date sits at 2%.
Story Continues
In Polymarket’s largest company by market cap contract, Nvidia Corp holds 60% to finish 2026 at the top. Tesla sits at 1%, with SpaceX at 2%.
JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman maintains a $145 price target on TSLA, the most bearish on the Street. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is at the other extreme with $600, calling 2026 a “monster year” for FSD and Cybercab. Consensus sits near $410.
Image: Shutterstock
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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
Connect Invest
Connect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans. Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets—helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.
Mode Mobile
Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte's fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. For investors, Mode Mobile offers exposure to the expanding mobile advertising and attention economy through a pre-IPO opportunity tied to a new approach to user monetization.
rHealth
rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.
Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.
Direxion
Direxion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events. Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use—allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.
Immersed
Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments. Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
Masterworks
Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.
Public
Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more—all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.
AdviserMatch
AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.
Accredited Debt Relief
Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions. Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.
Finance Advisors
Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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- Tesla Gains After Analyst Rating Update
May 11, 2026
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Tesla (TSLA, Financials) remained in focus after a new investment bank analyst rating update added to growing Wall Street attention around the electric vehicle maker.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with TSLA. Is TSLA fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator.
Shares climbed more than 4% as investors continued betting on Tesla's long-term opportunities in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and robotaxi technology.
The stock has also benefited from improving sentiment around future AI-related revenue streams, including autonomous ride-hailing services and software expansion.
Tesla remained among the market's most actively traded stocks, alongside major semiconductor and AI names such as Nvidia and AMD.
Investors are closely watching upcoming developments tied to Tesla's robotaxi rollout, Full Self-Driving progress and global vehicle demand as the company pushes deeper into AI-driven transportation.
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- Apple Board Veteran Sells $71 Million in Stock After Record Earnings
May 11, 2026
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) director Arthur Levinson sold about $71.2 million worth of shares on May 6, days after the company posted quarterly results and unveiled a large buyback plan.
Levinson sold 250,000 shares at a time when Apple was trading near record highs. He still holds more than 3.8 million shares, valued at more than $1.1 billion, and has served on the board since 2000.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with TSLA. Is AAPL fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator.
The sale came after Apple reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $111.2 billion, up 17% from a year earlier and helped by demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. Earnings per share came in at $2.01, above analyst estimates of $1.92.
Apple also authorized a new $100 billion share repurchase program and lifted its quarterly dividend by 4% to $0.27 a share.
Investors are also watching a leadership transition, with John Ternus set to become chief executive on Sept. 1 as Tim Cook moves to executive chairman.
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- US Equity Indexes Advance, Treasury Yields Rise With Crude Oil as Trump Explores Options to Tame Iran
May 11, 2026
US equity indexes rose on Monday, alongside crude oil futures and Treasury yields, as President Dona
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- Will Tesla investors get Optimus upside for free if they buy now?
May 11, 2026
Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter wrote that Tesla (TSLA) investors entering at the current stock price are practically buying into the upside of the company's Optimus robotics "for free."
Yahoo Finance Senior Autos Reporter Pras Subramanian breaks down this analyst note examining the future value of the EV maker's robotics business.
Video Transcript
00:00 Speaker A
Tesla investors buying the stock at its current share price are getting the Optimus robot business for free.
00:07 Speaker A
It's according to Piper Sandler. Here with more is Yahoo Finance Senior Auto Reporter Pras Subramanian. So,
00:12 Speaker A
Pras, is the basic argument, if if the core Tesla business alone justifies the stock,
00:20 Speaker A
then okay, I'm getting I'm getting robot upside for free. Is that is that the thinking?
00:25 Pras Subramanian
with their analysis, right? So their analysis, you know, 20-year DCF sort of, um, you know, valuing all the different parts of the business. They see that at $400 a share.
00:34 Pras Subramanian
Um, but he's, but Potter, Alexander Potter, the analyst is not including Optimus in that analysis. He says, quote, where to begin forecasting products with the potential to fundamentally reshape labor markets and alter global GDP?
00:43 Pras Subramanian
One day we will try, but not for, but for now, the analysis in the report illustrates that there's no rush. So, he's not putting that in there. Uh, and Tesla trading around 430 right now or thereabouts.
00:51 Pras Subramanian
So, around that price you buy it, he's saying that you essentially get Optimus for free. Now, he has a $100 price tag target, I'm sorry,
00:56 Pras Subramanian
a $500 price target on the stock. So, he's sort of valuing that business at 100 bucks potentially, but like he says, it's hard to value that. It's just sort of his, uh, measure on that right now.
1:04 Pras Subramanian
But yeah, 445 with today's big move. Um, you know, you you're seeing that a little bit of, you know, 45 bucks there. Is that what we're seeing here? Optimus? I mean, if that's the case, that's not a bad bet.
1:12 Speaker A
What is the current timeline for Optimus in terms of like real commercialization? What
1:18 Speaker A
What is Must been saying?
1:20 Pras Subramanian
You know, so, uh, in in after the Q1 earnings report, they talked about how they're going to start industrialization of the production process. They're going to install the equipment at Fremont where they had the Model S and Model X
1:28 Pras Subramanian
um, lines. remember they shut those products down, they're going to create that those lines for Optimus for like large-scale production. Uh, and then he says that we'll have Optimus useful outside of Tesla sometime next year.
1:36 Pras Subramanian
Um, there's been some sort of debate as to what's happening in Tesla right now. You know, talked about using Optimus to build batteries and things like that, but you haven't actually seen that.
1:44 Pras Subramanian
So, it's it's Musk with his sort of timelines. They're pretty aggressive. We've seen these things get pushed out from here from here to there.
1:50 Pras Subramanian
But one thing that I want to note is that we're supposed to see Optimus Gen 3, that version, um, by now, and must push that back to July and August. So, I think that's sort of a key milestone to see that
1:59 Pras Subramanian
latest version of the robot that will probably be the one that's that they're going to industrialize.
2:02 Speaker A
Finally, Ben, just back to the here now. Piper did they cut their estimates, right?
2:06 Pras Subramanian
Yeah, it's more about how they see the auto business, you know, changes in demand, uh loss of regulatory credits.
2:13 Pras Subramanian
Those are coming down. Estimates are coming down. But in the future, they see things like, um, FSD subscriptions, robotaxi deployments as the new metrics that investors should focus on.
2:23 Pras Subramanian
As those businesses ramp up, it'll sort of compensate for the loss in the traditional auto business. So, that's where they see sort of balancing out
2:28 Pras Subramanian
by the end by you know, and taking over in the next medium to long term.
2:32 Speaker A
All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
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- Tesla's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook among CEOs set to join Trump on China trip
May 11, 2026
The White House on Monday released a list of 16 top executives invited to join President Trump on his trip to China this week.
The president is set to depart Tuesday for Beijing for a series of meetings expected to last through Friday that will likely touch on issues like increasing AI communication and managing trade.
The list released Monday includes many CEOs with direct business before China. Kelly Ortberg of Boeing (BA) is expected to be along for the trip as additional purchases by China of Boeing planes and engines are widely expected to be announced this week.
Likewise, agricultural giant Cargill will be represented by CEO Brian Sikes, with Chinese agriculture purchases also a topic of discussion.
The inclusion of Elon Musk of Tesla (TSLA) is also sure to garner intense focus after his high-profile fallout with Trump last year — even as the world’s richest man has appeared alongside Trump multiple times in recent months.US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)·Reuters / REUTERS
Notably absent from the attendees is Nvidia’s (NVDA) Jensen Huang, who is not expected to be in attendance even as China has angled for access to the chipmaker’s leading-edge Blackwell chips.
Huang’s lack of attendance may stem from worries among more hawkish national security leaders in the White House regarding his willingness to push Trump toward opening up the Chinese market, said Henrietta Levin, senior fellow at CSIS and the director for China under the Biden administration’s National Security Council.
The expected list of this week’s attendees, while significant, is also a smaller contingent compared with the groups accompanying Trump on some recent trips.
It was one year ago that Trump traveled to the Middle East and crossed paths with about 60 CEOs while he was there during stops that featured a heavy focus on dealmaking from Saudi Arabia to Qatar to the United Arab Emirates.
The current headcount is also scaled back from Trump’s last visit to Beijing in 2017, during his first term, when the US leader was accompanied by 29 business leaders.Nvidia founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, speaks during the 29th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 4, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)·PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images
The tightened headcount may come from a schism within the White House between Trump’s personal instinct for “unfettered, enthusiastic” dealmaking with China and administration officials who are more hawkish on national security and don’t want to see US business interests further tied up with Beijing, Levin told Yahoo Finance.
This time around, the White House has tried to downplay expectations for major new deals and investment. A senior US official told reporters on Sunday that “there’s not a proposal out there for some massive investment” from China to the US, saying it “has not been on the negotiating table.”
Story Continues
Here’s the full delegation list, according to a White House official:
Tim Cook of Apple (AAPL) Larry Fink of BlackRock (BLK) Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone (BX) Kelly Ortberg of Boeing Brian Sikes of Cargill Jane Fraser of Citi (C) Jim Anderson of Coherent (COHR) Larry Culp of GE Aerospace (GE) David Solomon of Goldman Sachs (GS) Jacob Thaysen of Illumina (ILMN) Michael Miebach of Mastercard (MA) Dina Powell McCormick of Meta (META) Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron (MU) Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm (QCOM) Elon Musk of Tesla Ryan McInerney of Visa (V)
Cisco (CSCO) CEO Chuck Robbins had been invited, according to the White House, but the company said he is unable to attend due to the company’s earnings schedule.
Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering economic policy and the intersection of financial issues and the nation's capital. He has covered Washington for over 20 years as a reporter and video producer, working previously at the New York Times and CNN.
Jake Conley is a breaking news reporter covering US equities for Yahoo Finance. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.
Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices
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- Ford Goes Full Tesla—Again
May 11, 2026
Ford Motor is starting up a new business that Tesla pioneered: Energy Storage. Monday, Ford introduced “Ford Energy,” which will deliver “United States-assembled battery energy storage systems for utilities, data centers, and large industrial and commercial customers in the United States.” Tesla has a large energy storage business.
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- Tesla Robotaxi Rollout And Korea EV Growth Test Market Optimism
May 11, 2026
Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.
Tesla (NasdaqGS:TSLA) plans to launch a Robotaxi autonomous service across roughly a dozen U.S. states by the end of 2026, using a phased rollout focused on safety and regulatory alignment. The company is reporting record import EV sales growth in South Korea, where Tesla now accounts for 29% of total imported EV sales year to date.
Tesla shares trade at $428.35, with the stock up 9.1% over the past week, 22.8% over the past month, and 34.5% over the past year. Over three and five years, NasdaqGS:TSLA has returned 157.5% and 122.8% respectively, while performance year to date is down 2.2%. This mix of strong multi year gains and softer recent year to date performance gives important context as the company takes on new capital intensive projects such as Robotaxi.
For investors, the cautious multi state Robotaxi rollout and expanding position in South Korea point to Tesla pursuing both new services and deeper regional penetration at the same time. Attention will likely focus on how quickly the Robotaxi program clears regulatory milestones and how sustainable the 29% share of imported EV sales in South Korea proves to be. These factors could influence how the NasdaqGS:TSLA story is viewed over the next few years, alongside broader EV adoption trends and execution on autonomous driving.
Stay updated on the most important news stories for Tesla by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Tesla.NasdaqGS:TSLA Earnings & Revenue Growth as at May 2026
1 thing going right for Tesla that this headline doesn't cover.
Quick Assessment
❌ Price vs Analyst Target: At US$428.35, Tesla trades about 3.9% above the US$412.25 analyst target, with estimates ranging from US$123 to US$600. ❌ Simply Wall St Valuation: Shares are reported as trading 185.4% above the estimated fair value, which is a clear premium. ✅ Recent Momentum: The stock is up 22.8% over the last 30 days, showing strong short term momentum.
There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Tesla: head to the Simply Wall St company report for the latest analysis of Tesla's Fair Value..
Key Considerations
📊 The Robotaxi rollout and record import EV sales in South Korea highlight a mix of new services and international expansion that could shape how you think about Tesla's long term revenue mix. 📊 Watch progress on regulatory approvals for Robotaxi, updates on self driving capabilities and whether Tesla can maintain its 29% share of imported EV sales in South Korea. ⚠️ Profit margins have softened from 6.4% to 3.9% and shareholders were diluted over the past year, which matters when the stock already trades at a high reported valuation.
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- GM agrees to pay millions over concerning privacy issue
May 11, 2026
Innately, we as consumers know there is a trade-off to adding invasive technology to our daily lives, but General Motors is paying the price for going too far with the data it collects from drivers.
General Motors, the country's largest automaker, agreed to settle a California class action lawsuit for $12.75 million over the company's policy of selling the driving data from its OnStar vehicle assistance program to data brokers who could then market the data to auto insurers.
The settlement comes two years after The New York Times reported that OnStar's "Smart Driver" program collected data on hard braking, late-night driving, and speeding and then sold that data to interested parties. The company said it collected data to promote safer driving behavior, but it was also collecting data that it then sold to brokers.
The report cited an OnStar user whose insurance payment rose by 21% based on his Smart Driver data.
GM discontinued Smart Driver shortly after The New York Times story and terminated its data-sharing agreements with LexisNexis and Verisk in 2024. But the damage had already been done.
The Federal Trade Commission soon launched an investigation, leading to a proposed five-year ban on GM and OnStar disclosing customers' geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies.
While GM has officially settled its case in California, other states still seek damages for the invasion of privacy.
What does GM's California OnStar Smart Driver settlement entail?
Despite discontinuing the program in 2024, General Motors is still paying for the mistake of selling sensitive driver data to brokers who then sold it to auto insurance companies.
The nearly $13 million settlement GM must pay California residents as part of the class-action lawsuit against it is only one of the stipulations of the agreement. GM must also delete any driving data it has retained for 180 days unless a customer gives express consent for the data to be shared, except in certain cases, such as for emergency responders.
GM must also allow its California customers to disable the company's remote collection of all data from their vehicles if they decide not to enroll in OnStar, or if they unenroll from the program (though GM may still respond to a person pressing the OnStar button and use its driving data to answer their question).
GM will pay the fine to the California Attorney General's Office within 30 days, and the state will disburse the money.
General Motors did not admit any liability and did not immediately return a request for comment from TheStreet.
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GM must allow its California customers to disable the company's remote collection of all data from their vehicles if they decide not to enroll in OnStar.Photo by Bloomberg on Getty Images
Are GM's OnStar legal troubles over?
As mentioned earlier, California is just one of the states that sued GM after The New York Times article. There are at least two other state class actions in Texas and Nebraska, and a separate class action lawsuit featuring nearly 40 individuals is also making its way through the courts.
The multiple individual lawsuits were consolidated into a single multidistrict litigation, IN RE: Consumer Vehicle Driving Data Tracking Litigation. On April 22, Judge Thrash of the Northern District of Georgia dismissed GM's petition to have the lawsuit dismissed.
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The judge also denied GM's motion to dismiss the plaintiff's unjust enrichment claim and denied part of the company's motion to dismiss the invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy, and Fair Credit Reporting Act claims. The judge's ruling means that more than 40 claims against the company can continue.
The lawsuit alleges that GM has been collecting and transmitting driving data since model year 2015, and the Smart Driver program was launched in 2016. GM reportedly collected data on a bunch of driver behaviors, including each time a vehicle was started, and transmitted it to GM's servers over the cellular network.
GM claimed that vehicle owners consented to data collection by using OnStar and that the terms of service still applied, even if customers did not read them.
Meanwhile, late last year, a judge ruled that Nebraska's class-action lawsuit against the company could proceed.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers sued General Motors for allegedly collecting and selling driver data to third parties without their consent.
“Thousands of Nebraskans have been driving GM vehicles that, unknown to them, surveil and track their vehicle usage data, which GM then sells for profit,” the lawsuit states.
“Nebraska law requires companies to be honest with consumers about how their products and services collect, use, and sell customer data. GM violated that fundamental duty to deal honestly in Nebraska by selling vehicles designed to surveil and track consumers’ use of GM vehicles for the purpose of profiting off the invasion of privacy of unsuspecting vehicle owners.”
Car tech is incredibly invasive in most modern vehicles
Modern cars are rolling surveillance machines, and car companies don’t make it easy to opt out of the matrix.
Tesla, for instance, is considered one of the most technologically advanced passenger cars in the world. Still, Privacy Not Included notes that the company itself says that opting out of certain data-collection programs may result in your vehicle suffering reduced functionality, serious damage, or inoperability.
Mozilla Foundation’s Privacy Not Included data privacy initiative calls modern cars a “privacy nightmare on wheels.”
“Many people think of their car as a private space — somewhere to call your doctor, have a personal conversation with your kid on the way to school, cry your eyes out over a break-up, or drive places you might not want the world to know about,” said Jen Caltrider, Privacy Not Included program director.
“But that perception no longer matches reality. All new cars today are privacy nightmares on wheels that collect huge amounts of personal information.”
Related: This is how Ford CEO Jim Farley "future proofs" F-Series trucks
This story was originally published by TheStreet on May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Automotive section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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