Tesla is facing a new U.S. regulatory investigation by NHTSA, launched on December 24, 2025, regarding Model 3 emergency door release defects potentially affecting over 179,000 vehicles. This adds to ongoing scrutiny of its autonomous driving systems.
Simultaneously, optimism for Tesla's robotaxi program is escalating, with reports confirming testing without safety monitors in Austin. Analysts are increasingly raising price targets based on this 'AI platform' narrative, even as several firms trim Q4 delivery forecasts.