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Musk’s new Tesla pay deal could earn billions even without “Mars-shot” breakthroughs

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Elon Musk’s record-breaking $878 billion Tesla pay package, pitched as contingent on “Mars-shot” achievements, could still grant him tens of billions of dollars even if he misses the most ambitious goals, according to a Reuters analysis of the deal’s structure and expert evaluations.

When Tesla’s board approved the 10-year compensation plan in September, it told investors Musk would only earn shares by transforming Tesla and society through advances in AI, robotics, and autonomy. Yet performance experts say the plan’s vague definitions and lenient milestones could see Musk earning massive payouts without revolutionizing the company.

By achieving only a handful of easier targets—such as modest vehicle sales and incremental growth in Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions—Musk could collect more than $50 billion in Tesla stock. Even two minor achievements, paired with a $2.5 trillion valuation, would grant him $26 billion, more than the lifetime pay of several top U.S. CEOs combined.

Critics argue that goals like selling 1.2 million cars annually or reaching 10 million FSD subscriptions are achievable without breakthroughs in autonomy or robotics. Experts also noted that definitions of “advanced driving system” and “robot” are so broad that Musk could qualify for payouts without delivering true self-driving or humanoid robots.

Tesla’s board insists the package is “worth zero unless value doubles,” yet corporate governance analysts warn that the structure grants Musk huge rewards with minimal accountability. The hardest targets—profit milestones up to $400 billion—may be out of reach, but Tesla’s market value could still reach $2–3 trillion over a decade with average stock growth.

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said the company’s valuation already hinges on “future products that don’t exist today.” Whether Musk delivers them—or merely the promise—will decide if shareholders’ faith pays off.

Silicon Valley Startup Lyten Aims to Revive Europe’s Battery Ambitions by Acquiring Northvolt Assets

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Lyten, a U.S.-based startup specializing in lithium-sulphur battery technology, announced it will acquire the remaining assets of bankrupt European battery maker Northvolt in Sweden and Germany. This move could rekindle hopes for building a robust European electric vehicle (EV) battery industry and reduce dependency on Chinese suppliers.

About Lyten:
Founded in 2015 in California, Lyten began in a shipping container and has since attracted major backers including Stellantis, the parent of Chrysler, and logistics giant FedEx. The company develops lithium-sulphur battery cells, a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. In 2024, Lyten unveiled plans to build the world’s first lithium-sulphur battery gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, with an investment exceeding $1 billion. Over the past year, Lyten has also acquired Northvolt’s U.S. R&D hub and Europe’s largest energy storage systems factory.

Northvolt’s Collapse:
Sweden’s Northvolt entered U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024 after struggling to scale production at its main plant despite strong demand and backing from automakers like BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo Cars, and Audi. The company once held a $50 billion order book, but bankruptcy wiped this out. Northvolt had raised over $10 billion since its founding in 2016 and employed over 6,000 people at its peak. Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs were among its largest shareholders.

Significance of Lithium-Sulphur Batteries:
Lithium-sulphur technology is seen as a game-changer for EV batteries because it can be up to two-thirds cheaper than lithium-ion cells. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulphur cells avoid costly and supply-concentrated materials like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, many of which are predominantly sourced from China. This makes lithium-sulphur batteries potentially cheaper and more sustainable.

Backers of Lyten:
Lyten has secured more than $625 million in funding from investors such as Stellantis, FedEx, Honeywell, Boeing and Airbus suppliers, venture capital firm Prime Movers Lab, and Canadian mining company Wallbridge.

Tesla to Launch Robotaxi Trial in Austin by End of June, Says Elon Musk

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Tesla is preparing to begin its much-anticipated robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas, by the end of June, CEO Elon Musk confirmed in an interview with CNBC. The trial marks a significant milestone for the electric carmaker’s shift toward autonomous driving and AI-driven products.

Initially, Tesla plans to deploy about 10 self-driving vehicles in select “safest” parts of Austin, with the goal of scaling up to approximately 1,000 cars over the following months. The launch comes at a critical time for Tesla, as global sales have slowed amid growing EV competition and mounting scrutiny of Musk’s political affiliations and side ventures.

Musk emphasized that Tesla’s long-term future hinges on autonomy and its humanoid robot project, Optimus. “The only things that matter in the long term are autonomy and Optimus,” he stated, underlining the strategic pivot away from building a low-cost EV platform.

The robotaxi launch will face close examination from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is currently investigating incidents involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, particularly in low-visibility conditions. The regulator recently asked Tesla to detail how its robotaxis will operate in adverse weather.

Meanwhile, Musk revealed that Tesla is in licensing discussions with major automakers interested in using its FSD software — a potential revenue stream that could help commercialize the robotaxi platform faster.

Beyond Tesla, Musk’s AI startup xAI is also making headlines. The company is expanding a massive supercomputer cluster named “Colossus” in Memphis, Tennessee, which will feature one million of Nvidia’s Blackwell chips — part of a broader plan to train advanced AI models. xAI recently acquired a 1-million-square-foot property in Memphis to support the buildout.

While a merger between Tesla and xAI is not currently planned, Musk did not rule it out entirely, stating it would require shareholder approval if it were to move forward.