Tesla News Today: Musk fights to block Robotaxi records, Optimus lead quits, crash data secrecy, HW5 confirmed, stock rebounds & more.
Tesla Daily Briefing – June 8, 2025
1. Tesla Seeks to Block Release of Austin Robotaxi Trial Records
Tesla is fighting to keep its robotaxi trial details under wraps. The company filed a legal objection after the City of Austin said it might release communications with Tesla regarding public tests of its self-driving Robotaxis. Tesla argues the data is “trade secret” and sensitive, claiming disclosure could let competitors reverse-engineer its strategy. The city, however, believes transparency is essential for public trust. The Texas Attorney General will now decide whether the documents remain classified.
Why it matters: This legal battle highlights Tesla’s aggressive approach to protecting its autonomous vehicle deployment in Austin—an area many see as critical to its future Robotaxi business.
2. Optimists Alert: Tesla’s Optimus Lead Steps Down, Autopilot Boss Takes Over
Milan Kovac, head of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot project, resigned to focus on family. Tesla named Ashok Elluswamy—the current lead of its Autopilot team—as his successor. Kovac led the Optimus initiative since 2022, revealing a major leadership shift in one of Tesla’s most visionary but complex projects. Tesla is planning thousands of Optimus units by the end of 2025, but some technical and supply challenges remain.
Why it matters: This could slow Optimus development. Appointing an insider like Elluswamy shows Tesla’s commitment to continuity, but it also raises questions about shifting priorities between robots and self-driving strategies.
3. Tesla Petitions to Keep Crash Data Confidential
Tesla recently requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) not release crash data related to its Autopilot and FSD systems, citing “proprietary trade secrets.” The data was requested by The Washington Post in order to analyze Autopilot safety. Tesla claims that sharing this data could unfairly expose internal systems to competitors. The NHTSA must now weigh public safety versus corporate privacy.
Why it matters: This decision could influence how transparent Tesla is forced to be about safety incidents involving its driver-assistance software, affecting both regulation and consumer trust.
4. Tesla Stock Pops After Hints of Trump-Musk Peace Talks
Tesla’s shares rebounded slightly up ~1% in European markets after a Politico report suggested Musk may have reached out to the White House to defuse tensions with former President Trump. This follows a steep drop tied to their public feud.
Why it matters: Moments like this highlight how quickly Tesla’s stock can be influenced by non-operational news. Market observers are watching political cues as closely as quarterly earnings.
5. Tesla Amid Rising Vandalism Against Brand and Properties
Recent months have seen a worrying rise in vandalism targeting Tesla cars, showrooms, and Superchargers across the US and Europe. According to Wikipedia and coverage compiled by media, incidents now span multiple countries and include graffiti, smashed windows, and punctured tires. Insurance premiums for Tesla vehicles have reportedly jumped—Model Y rates rose 29% in just the first quarter of 2025.
Why it matters: The growing vandalism wave demonstrates a shift from digital backlash to physical protest, adding new financial pressures on Tesla owners and operations.
6. Tesla Autopilot Hardware 5 (HW5) Announced with AI Power Boost
In a future-looking update, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla’s next-generation Autopilot hardware (HW5), also called AI5, is scheduled for release in January 2026. This upgrade is expected to deliver ten times more processing power than the current HW4, enabling improved object detection and autonomous performance.
Why it matters: HW5 is a key part of Tesla’s roadmap toward full autonomy, supporting both Robotaxi and Optimus AI ambitions, and bolstering performance where Tesla currently leads.