Why Tesla Stock Hit an All-Time High Today

By Howard Smith – Dec 15, 2025 at 12:44PM ESTKey PointsTesla's EV sales keep sliding, but that's not what investors are watching.The company's robotaxis are moving to the next testing phase, according to CEO Elon Musk. These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NASDAQ: TSLATeslaMarket Cap$1.5TToday's Changeangle-down(4.00%) $18.38Current Price$477.34Price as of December 15, 2025 at 1:12 PM ETTesla's stock reached its all-time closing high today, marking the first time it's achieved this level in a year.Tesla (TSLA +4.00%) shares rose as much as 5% to start the trading week, briefly marking the highest level in a year. As of 12:30 p.m. ET, the stock remained up by 4%, just shy of the all-time high. News that Tesla's U.S. sales in November were the lowest since January 2022 hasn't deterred a recent rally, with shares up 18% in the last month. Image source: Tesla. Robotaxi progress Tesla's domestic sales fell 23% to 39,800 vehicles in November, according to Cox Automotive. That drop wasn't unique to Tesla, though. Overall, U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales plunged 41% as the sector navigates the Trump administration's cessation of $7,500 federal tax credits at the end of September. Tesla's EV sales aren't what investors are most concerned about, though. The stock trades at a level that can't be justified by EV sales alone. The prospects for Tesla's autonomous driving technology are more important for many investors. ExpandNASDAQ: TSLATeslaToday's Change(4.00%) $18.38Current Price$477.34Key Data PointsMarket Cap$1.5TDay's Range$467.74 - $481.7552wk Range$214.25 - $488.54Volume2.9MAvg Vol86MGross Margin17.01% This weekend, CEO Elon Musk gave them a reason for optimism that looks to be driving the stock higher today. Musk has invested heavily in developing autonomous vehicles that can act as a driverless robotaxi fleet. On Sunday, he posted on social media that "testing is underway with no occupants in the ‌car." Advertisement Testing without human safety monitors or occupants in the vehicle signals notable progress in Tesla's driverless taxi development. That prompted investors to push Tesla stock to its all-time high during trading this morning. About the AuthorHoward Smith is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and industrial stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Howard spent nearly 30 years supervising quality and operations in the steel industry, mostly with leading steel company Nucor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Lafayette College and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.TMFBuilt2LastRead NextDec 15, 2025 •By John BromelsPrediction: Elon Musk Will Reveal Tesla Is Already Losing Money in Q4Dec 13, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAShould Investors Buy Tesla Stock Before 2026?Dec 9, 2025 •By Neil PatelShould You Buy Tesla While It's Below $500?Dec 9, 2025 •By Bram BerkowitzIf You'd Invested $3,500 in Tesla 12 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have TodayDec 7, 2025 •By Jeremy BowmanWill Tesla Stock Pop or Drop in 2026?Dec 6, 2025 •By Lee SamahaGreat News for Tesla Investors