TSLA: Tesla Stock Drops After Cybertruck Explosion Claims One Victim Outside Trump Hotel

Cybertruck was filled with fuel canisters and multi-colored firework mortars. Musk said it was an act of terror.

• Tesla stock TSLA slipped about half a percent in pre-market trading Thursday after a huge Cybertruck explosion took the driver’s life and injured seven more people outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the investigation is in the early stages, video footage shows the electric pickup started to smoke before detonating from what seemed like fuel canisters and a pack of firework mortars which bursted in a multi-colored blast.
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to his X platform to say that the incident could be an act of terrorism related to the horrific car-ramming attack hours earlier in New Orleans, which claimed at least 15 lives. "Appears likely to be an act of terrorism. Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way," he wrote. "Thus far, there's nothing to report on that score," President Joe Biden said.
• The incident occurred a day before Tesla is due to release its delivery numbers. Investors will be looking to find out whether demand for Cybertruck has been waning due to the vehicle’s high price and odd-looking design. For the third quarter, Tesla shipped 462,890 new vehicles, up 6% from the year-ago quarter. For the past three months, analysts expect around 510,000 electric cars delivered. Tesla’s own target is 515,000 units. Both of these, if met, will be a record delivery number, surpassing the current record of 484,507 cars in the fourth quarter of 2023.