The history of Tesla
- Tesla was founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, with the goal of producing electric vehicles that rival traditional petrol or diesel cars in performance and design
- The company was named after Nikola Tesla, the inventor who pioneered alternating current (AC) electricity.
- Elon Musk joined Tesla in 2004 as an early investor and became its CEO in 2008, leading the company’s transformation into a global leader in electric vehicle technology
- Tesla’s first major product, the Roadster, was introduced in 2008, proving that electric cars could deliver high performance and long driving ranges
- In 2012, Tesla launched the Model S, a luxury sedan that gained widespread recognition and helped solidify Tesla’s reputation as a pioneer in electric vehicle technology
- Also in 2012, Tesla began building its Supercharger network, a network of fast-charging stations that makes long-distance electric travel feasible
- The Model X was introduced in 2015, an electric SUV with unique uplifting ‘falcon wing’ doors and advanced technology
- Tesla opened its first gigafactory in Nevada in 2016, a massive facility for producing batteries and electric vehicle components
- That same year the company purchased SolarCity, a leading solar panel installer, expanding the company’s focus on sustainable energy solutions
- In 2017 the Model 3 was launched, a more affordable electric sedan aimed at the mass car market
- Based on the Model 3 platform, Tesla launched the Model Y in 2020, a companct SUV which quickly became a popular and high-demand model vehicle
- The Cybertruck was unvieled in November 2019 but did not become available for delivery until 2023. It is a futuristic pickup truck which has been a controversial addition to the Tesla vehicle range, and has recently in Q4 2024 had disappointing sales figures
- Today, Tesla is not just an electric vehicle manufacturer but also a key player in renewable energy solutions, with products like solar panels and battery energy storage solutions such as the Powerwall and Megapack
- The company has expanded its manufacturing and sales operations globally, with gigafactories located in China and Germany
- Tesla continues to push the boundaries of electric vehicles, autonomous driving and sustainable energy solutions, with ongoing development of new models and technologies
- It is still the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, with a significant market share, although its dominance of the electric vehicle industry is gradually being challenged by Chinese EV manufacturers such as BYD, Nio and Xpeng
Background to Tesla’s share price
- Tesla shares trade under the ticker symbol TSLA on the NASDAQ stock exchange
- Since going public in June 2010, Tesla’s stock price has been marked by very high volatility, reflecting the company’s innovative but often risky business ventures
- Tesla achieved a major milestone in 2020, becoming the world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalisation, surpassing traditional industry giants like Toyota and Volkswagen
- The company’s share price often reacts strongly to news of vehicle production numbers, delivery targets, and technological advancements in areas like battery technology and autonomous driving
- It can also react with extreme volatility to tweets or announcements from Elon Musk, and so news trading is a strong driver of speculative behaviour with the Tesla stock
- Tesla’s stock price has been a key driver of broader sentiment in the electric vehicle market and is viewed as a bellwether for innovation in the automotive industry
Why trade Tesla stock CFDs?
- Volatility: Tesla’s stock is known for its significant price fluctuations, providing frequent opportunities for traders to capitalise on both upward and downward movements
- Growth potential: Tesla continues to expand globally, with plans for new factories and the development of cutting-edge technology, offering long-term growth opportunities that other companies may not have
- High liquidity: Tesla’s popularity among both retail and institutional investors ensures a high level of liquidity, making it easy for share CFD traders to open and close positions at their desired price
- Innovation-driven stock: Tesla’s focus on disruptive technology in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and clean energy provides unique trading opportunities not commonly available with other companies
- Public attention: Tesla receives constant media coverage, driven by its charismatic CEO Elon Musk, and its groundbreaking technological innovations. This helps generate market interest, making its CFDs more attractive than many other stocks
What are the benefits of trading Tesla CFDs?
Exposure to an innovative market leader
Tesla is a global leader in electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, and autonomous driving technology. Trading Tesla CFDs allows you to gain exposure to a company at the forefront of innovation without owning the actual shares.
High volatility for trading opportunities
Tesla’s stock price experiences significant price swings due to earnings reports, production updates, and market sentiment. This volatility creates multiple trading opportunities for both day traders and longer-term trend traders.
Leverage for increased market exposure
CFD trading allows you to control a larger position with a smaller capital outlay, potentially increasing returns. However, leverage also magnifies risk, making effective risk management essential.
Trade around earnings reports
Tesla’s stock price is highly reactive to quarterly earnings releases, production figures, and delivery reports. CFD traders can take advantage of sharp price movements before and after these announcements.
24-hour market
Unlike other financial markets, the forex market operates 24-hours a day, five days a week, allowing you to trade at any time that suits you, regardless of your location
Trade long or short
With forex trading,you have the flexibility to profit in both rising (long) and falling (short) markets, giving you more opportunities to make profitable trades
Diverse trading opportunities
With a wide range of currency pairs to choose from, you’ll be able to find trading opportunities in most economic conditions and market types
Access to leverage
Let your trading benefit from high leverage opportunities, allowing you to control a larger position with a smaller capital investment, potentially increasing your profits
Long and short-selling opportunities
Trading CFDs enable traders to take both long and short trading positions. This flexibility permits trading in both rising and falling markets
High volatility
Tesla’s stock price often experiences large swings, particularly around earnings reports. This volatility creates multiple short-term day trading opportunities.
Global market connectivity
CFDs such as TSLA come with the ability to trade other financial assets such as indices, commodities and fx all from the same platform
Hedging opportunities
Google CFDs can be used to hedge existing positions in other related assets to offset potential losses
Frequently asked questions
What are the trading hours for Tesla CFDs?
- Tesla CFDs are typically traded during NASDAQ stock exchange hours, which run from 9.30am to 4.00pm Eastern Time (2.30pm to 9.00pm GMT)
- Some brokers such as MarketMates offer extended trading hours, allowing for pre-market and after-hours trading
- Extended hours trading is particularly useful during Tesla’s earnings releases when significant price movements often occur outside of regular trading hours
- While extended hours can offer trading opportunities, liquidity may be lower during these periods, increasing the potential for price gaps
What factors influence the price of Tesla share CFDs?
- Vehicle production and delivery numbers: Tesla’s ability to meet production targets and delivery estimates is closely watched by investors and can significantly impact the stock price
- Battery technology developments: Breakthroughs in battery efficiency, production cost reductions, or new battery technologies can drive the stock price upward
- Government incentives: Policies supporting electric vehicle adoption, such as tax credits or subsidies, can positively influence Tesla’s stock price, especially in major markets like the U.S. and China
- Elon Musk’s actions and statements: Tesla’s CEO has a strong influence on market sentiment. His public comments, tweets, or participation in media events can cause significant movements in the share price
- Competition in the electric vehicle space: Tesla faces increasing competition from traditional automakers and new Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, which can impact its market share and stock price
What are the risks of trading Tesla share CFDs?
- High volatility: Tesla’s stock price is notoriously volatile, which can result in large gains or losses in a short period. Traders must be prepared for rapid price movements
- Over-reliance on CEO Elon Musk: Tesla’s stock price often reacts to Musk’s statements and actions. This creates a level of unpredictability that can increase the risk for CFD traders
- Leverage risks: Trading Tesla CFDs with leverage can magnify both profits and losses, making risk management crucial, especially with a highly volatile stock like Tesla
- Supply chain disruptions: Tesla’s global manufacturing relies on a complex supply chain, and any disruptions (e.g., chip shortages, material supply issues) can negatively impact its stock price
- Regulatory risks: Tesla operates in highly regulated industries, including automotive and energy, and any changes in government policies or regulations could affect the company’s profitability
What are the most popular Tesla share CFD trading strategies?
- Day trading: Day traders focus on short-term price movements in Google CFDs, often taking advantage of volatility during key news events or earnings reports
- Swing trading: Swing traders hold Google CFDs for a few days or weeks, aiming to capture price swings based on market trends, earnings announcements, or product launches
- News trading: Google’s frequent updates, partnerships, and product developments provide opportunities for news-based trading, where positions are taken based on market reaction to news
- Earnings season trading: Traders often capitalise on the volatility surrounding Google’s quarterly earnings reports, taking advantage of price movements driven by unexpected results or forward guidance
- Hedging: Google CFDs can be used as a hedging tool, allowing traders to offset risks in other sectors by shorting Google during periods of anticipated weakness, or using it to balance portfolios that are heavily invested in tech stocks
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Tesla Stock Trading Chart
A powerful chart for you to use with all the customisable options you’d expect from TradingView.
Change the ticker, the time view, the type of chart you wish to view, and then add your favourite indicators.
Stock Market Active Movers
This stock market list shows the top five gainers and losers on the NASDAQ, and the most active stocks for the day. View the results by most active stocks, gainers and losers, and change the time period according to your trading style.
Stock Market News
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NASDAQ Economic Calendar
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See all the events and announcements you need to know, with the ability to set up filters for:
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