Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) stock jumped above $1,000 a share on Wednesday after Chief Executive Elon Musk told his staff it was time to bring the Tesla Semi commercial truck to “volume production.”
Musk, in an email seen by Reuters on Wednesday, did not specify a time frame for ramping up production of the Semi. Musk on Wednesday tweeted “Yes” to a question on Twitter about whether the report of the leaked Semi truck production email was accurate.
Tesla’s shares rose about 6% to hit $1,000 on Wednesday after Reuters reported Musk’s email, making the Silicon Valley company the second-most valuable automaker in the world, behind Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T). Tesla’s share surge could position Musk for another payout from a stock compensation plan tied to the company’s market capitalization.
The stock also got a boost from a bullish call by Wedbush, which lifted its target price for the automaker to $1,000 and said Tesla could have “more room to run.”
Investors also are anticipating Musk will unveil new “million-mile” battery technology that could deliver longer life, lower costs and better range for future Tesla vehicles.
“Production of the battery and powertrain will take place at Giga Nevada,” Musk wrote. Most of the other work will probably take place in other states, he wrote, without stating where.
