Tesla (TSLA) Stock: Slides as Musk’s Ryanair Poll Raises Share Sale Fears

TLDR

• Elon Musk polled X users about acquiring Ryanair after a public dispute with the airline’s CEO over Starlink service.
• A Ryanair purchase could force Musk to sell Tesla shares, similar to the Twitter acquisition in 2022.
• Tesla stock dropped 4.2% Tuesday due to broader market weakness from tariff concerns.
• Musk warned Cybercab and Optimus production will start extremely slow before accelerating.
• Tesla plans volume Cybercab production in 2026 and Optimus output later this year.

Tesla shareholders are watching Elon Musk’s latest moves on X with growing concern. The CEO spent recent days feuding with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary over SpaceX’s Starlink service.

Tesla, Inc., TSLA

The disagreement centered on whether Ryanair would adopt Starlink broadband for flights. O’Leary rejected the idea citing fuel costs. Musk called that view misinformed.

Musk polled X users about buying Ryanair. The airline carries a $35 billion market value. This isn’t idle speculation from Musk.

The Twitter Precedent

Remember Twitter? Musk bought the platform in 2022 after a lengthy battle. That acquisition created massive Tesla stock volatility and required substantial share sales.

If Musk pursued Ryanair, he’d likely need to tap his Tesla stake again. The deal could require roughly 5% of his $740 billion net worth. Tesla shares represent a major portion of that wealth.

Musk’s fortune includes stakes in SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla. Selling Tesla shares to fund another acquisition would rattle the stock. Investors experienced this firsthand with Twitter.

The odds of a Ryanair deal remain low. But Musk has proven he follows through on these ideas. That’s what worries shareholders.

Tesla stock fell 4.2% Tuesday. The drop wasn’t related to Ryanair speculation. Broader market weakness drove losses as the S&P 500 declined 2.1% and Nasdaq fell 2.4%.

President Trump’s proposed tariffs linked to Greenland acquisition plans spooked investors. That pressured the entire market lower.

Production Timeline Updates

Musk also addressed Tesla’s upcoming product launches. He confirmed Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus robot production will start painfully slow.

The Cybercab is a two-seater vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals. Tesla targets volume production in 2026. Optimus humanoid robot production should begin late 2026.

Tesla already operates limited robotaxi service in Austin using Model Y vehicles. Those runs include human safety monitors. Musk said in December the company was testing without monitors.

Valuation Pressure

Tesla’s $1.39 trillion valuation relies heavily on self-driving technology and robotics expectations. Electric vehicle sales still generate the actual revenue and profit.

Musk has described Optimus as potentially bigger than the car business eventually. That’s a huge claim for a product not yet in production.

Tesla stock traded up 0.5% in premarket Wednesday at $421.24. Shares are down 2% over the past year. The stock faces pressure from production concerns and Musk’s outside ventures.

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