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Days after demonstrating a Tesla Roadster fitted with SpaceX cold-gas thrusters, Elon Musk announced on SpaceX's third-quarter earnings call that the boards of Tesla and SpaceX are forming special committees to explore merging the two companies. Musk cited 'synergies' between the firms as the rationale.
On Tesla's earnings call, Elon Musk said the company has started early production of its Optimus humanoid robot on a high-volume line in Fremont, California, calling them the first 'production-quality bots.' He acknowledged significant remaining work on the robot's hands, safety, reliability, durability, and the AI needed for open-ended tasks, and said outside deliveries might begin around the end of 2027. Tesla did not disclose how many robots have been built or what tasks they can currently perform without human help.
During Tesla's Q3 earnings call, VP of Autonomous Driving Ashok Elluswamy said the company aims to let some Model Y owners enroll their vehicles in the Robotaxi network by around the second quarter of 2027. The plan requires the V15 software update and integration into Tesla's geofenced service areas and fleet-management system before private cars could earn fares.
Tesla executives said on the company's third-quarter earnings call that it plans to start selling its steering-wheel-free Cybercab to customers by the end of 2025, starting with a small volume. Currently all Cybercabs produced are going into Tesla's own robotaxi fleet, according to engineering VP Lars Moravy, with outside sales to scale gradually as the company learns about delivery and fleet management. The vehicle is also under federal safety review.
Ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, tech policy topics like AI regulation, data center construction, privacy and child online safety are becoming prominent campaign issues. Tech executives are making large political donations, including Elon Musk's roughly $366 million to conservative causes, Andreessen Horowitz's $91.3 million to Republican-aligned groups, and a $25 million gift from OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife to a pro-AI PAC. A Gallup poll found 70% of US adults, across party lines, oppose local data center construction due to concerns about electricity and water use.
An opinion piece argues that Elon Musk has mishandled his approach to bringing Starlink's satellite internet service into India. The commentary suggests his current diplomatic strategy with Indian authorities and regulators needs significant revision for the venture to succeed.
On Tesla's Q3 earnings call, autonomy VP Ashok Elluswamy said the company expects to let customer-owned Model Y vehicles join its robotaxi fleet around the second quarter of 2027. He said the software is shared with Tesla's Cybercab and will be rolled out via a V15 update, with the remaining requirement being integration into Tesla's geofencing and fleet-management systems.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk, not the US military or President Trump, made the call to throttle Starshield's military-grade Starlink service used by Ukraine. The cap limited connectivity for hardware moving faster than 160 kph, degrading the performance of Ukrainian offensive and interceptor drones. Both Musk and Trump have denied Trump ordered the restriction, which followed public criticism from both men over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.
SpaceX's third-quarter earnings exceeded Wall Street expectations, producing an unexpected profit that analysts described as a blowout result. Elon Musk responded by declaring that a previously stated ambitious goal is now within reach, without detailing specific figures or timelines in the reporting.
SpaceX executives said on an earnings call that the company plans to attempt catching both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage at the Starbase tower during the rocket's 15th test flight, targeted for November. Elon Musk said data from Flight 14 gives SpaceX confidence to try the dual catch, while president Gwynne Shotwell said the FAA license is expected to permit return-to-launch-site landings over land, including northern Mexico.
Tesla reported $28.0 billion in revenue and $1.7 billion in net income for the quarter ending September 2026, roughly flat revenue and a 4 percent profit drop versus the same period in 2025. Deliveries fell 2.1 percent year-over-year, a decline Tesla had anticipated following the September 2025 expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The results came days after Tesla showcased a flying, flipping prototype of its next-generation Roadster in Waco, Texas.
On SpaceX's earnings call, CEO Elon Musk said merging SpaceX and Tesla would be a 'good idea' and noted that special committees have been formed at both companies' boards to explore the possibility. Musk is set to discuss Tesla's quarterly results Wednesday, with analysts expecting 43 cents earnings per share on $27.9 billion in revenue, roughly flat versus last year.