NEW YORK, Feb 16, 2026, 3:18 PM EST — The market has wrapped up trading for the day.
- Tesla has dropped the buyout option for its Full Self-Driving feature in the U.S., nudging buyers toward a monthly subscription instead.
- TSLA is back trading Tuesday, following the market holiday for Washington’s Birthday.
- Eyes now turn to U.S. retail sales set for Feb. 17, with the Fed’s minutes hitting a day later, Feb. 18—both eyed for their potential impact on rates.
Tesla is no longer letting U.S. customers purchase its Full Self-Driving feature upfront, according to Business Insider, which reported Monday the company shifted the system to a $99 monthly subscription. Tesla stock finished Friday at $417.44, a 0.1% gain, before U.S. markets paused for Washington’s Birthday on Monday. (Business Insider)
Investors are shrugging off current car deliveries and zeroing in on Tesla’s software revenue story. Tesla, for its part, calls Full Self-Driving (Supervised) an assistance feature—not true autonomy—and reminds drivers to remain attentive and ready to take control. (Reuters)
Tesla has been closing off access to its driver-assist features. Back in January, new cars sold in the U.S. and Canada no longer came with Autosteer or the usual suite of extras—instead, the company nudged buyers toward its $99-a-month Full Self-Driving plan. CFO Vaibhav Taneja put the paid FSD adoption rate at 12% among Tesla owners. (Reuters)
The stock is set to resume trading Tuesday, with markets jittery over rates. Last week, bets on a June Fed cut climbed—fed funds futures responded to weaker inflation data. “The discussion will shift back to labor and wages until we get to March,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. (Reuters)
Tesla is setting up 2026 to be a big year for investment, targeting areas that stretch well past standard electric vehicles. The company’s outlined more than $20 billion in capital spending, with most of that aimed at scaling up Cybercab output, developing the Optimus robot, advancing the Semi truck, and expanding battery and lithium initiatives. “The bigger story is the business model transition now underway,” said Scott Acheychek, chief operating officer at REX Financial. (Reuters)
The shift puts stress on Tesla’s main automotive segment. For 2025, Tesla posted its first yearly drop in revenue and acknowledged it resorted to price cuts and deals to keep sales numbers up. Investors, meanwhile, continue to demand evidence that autonomy is delivering more than just hype. “It is entering a transition phase,” said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com. (Reuters)
The competitive landscape remains fierce. Rivian last week projected a 53% increase in deliveries for 2026 as it readies its more affordable R2 SUV, a vehicle aimed squarely at Tesla’s Model Y. (Reuters)
The subscription drive isn’t a one-way street. Some customers push back against ongoing charges, and any hitch with regulators or fresh doubts about driver-assist safety can quickly rattle sentiment. Higher rates? Those linger over pricey growth names, too. Tesla wants shareholders to swallow higher costs now, betting it can deliver on the software promise later.
Traders have their eyes on U.S. retail sales and the Empire State manufacturing index set for Tuesday. Then it’s Thursday’s turn, with trade numbers and the Philly Fed data on deck, before Friday’s GDP report rounds out the week. (Scotiabank)
All eyes will be on the Federal Reserve’s minutes from its January meeting, due out Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 2:00 p.m. ET — a release that stands out as the most obvious scheduled catalyst for markets and rate-sensitive stocks such as Tesla. (Federalreserve)
