NEW YORK, Feb 18, 2026, 16:54 EST — After-hours
- Tesla shares edged up roughly 0.2% after hours, trading just below $411.
- Tesla sidestepped a 30-day license suspension in California after regulators said the company altered its “Autopilot” marketing in the state.
- Elon Musk announced the first production Cybercab has come off the line in Texas. Investors now turn their attention to how the April ramp shapes up.
Tesla (TSLA.O) ticked up in after-hours—shares added about 0.2% to $411.32—after sidestepping a temporary halt to its California dealer and manufacturer licenses. The company adjusted marketing for its driver-assistance tech, satisfying regulators. Earlier, the stock ranged from $409.78 to $416.89. 1
Tesla has dropped the “Autopilot” branding from its California marketing, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles said, avoiding a 30-day suspension that regulators had threatened over what they described as misleading promotion of its driver-assist technology. “The DMV is committed to safety throughout all California’s roadways and communities,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. 2
This isn’t just semantics. The real issue here is how Tesla pitches autonomy, especially now as regulators and customers question the limits of driver-assistance tech. In California, Tesla has started tacking on “(Supervised)” to its Full Self-Driving name, spelling out that the driver’s still on the hook. 3
Elon Musk, the CEO, redirected investor attention to Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions. “Congratulations to the Tesla team on making the first production Cybercab!” Musk posted on X, following news that a Cybercab came off the line at the company’s Austin, Texas Gigafactory. 4
According to Electrive, series production will kick off in April, but there’s still no word on how quickly output might scale. The site called the two-seat Cybercab a direct challenger to Alphabet’s Waymo, adding that Tesla’s opting for a camera-only system over lidar sensors. 5
Tesla shares moved Wednesday, with EV makers keeping an eye on new moves out of Washington. The Trump administration announced it’s rolling back a U.S. Energy Department rule that previously gave automakers more credit for electric vehicles in meeting fuel-economy targets—a shift that stands to shake up sector incentives. 6
Tesla ran into new labor headaches at its Berlin-area plant after Germany’s IG Metall lodged a defamation complaint against a factory manager and pushed for a court order. The company kept quiet when asked for comment. “Legal disputes are not our preferred form of dispute resolution,” union rep Jan Otto said. 7
Still, California’s move underlines the risk lurking on the other side—the autonomy pitch draws in buyers, but also regulators. That dispute, according to TechCrunch, stretched out for almost three years. Tesla leans heavily on California; it’s the company’s largest market in the U.S., a state where losing a license could rapidly sap demand. 8
Eyes are on whether Wednesday’s slight rebound sticks through Thursday, and if the marketing tweaks remain limited to California or start cropping up elsewhere. The stock tends to react sharply to even minor hints about autonomy schedules or fresh regulatory news.
On products, investors will be watching for updates on Cybercab production plans—and any hints about how fast Tesla can shift from a showpiece to actual mass manufacturing. One big question still hangs: what sort of regulatory process awaits a car built without standard controls?
Tesla’s upcoming schedule shows two notable markers: Cybercab production is set to kick off in April, and the next earnings report is currently listed for April 21 on most major calendars. 9
