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SpaceX adjusts Falcon 9 launch date to Jan. 9; prepares for engine test at Vandenberg

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SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch has been postponed by one day to Monday, Jan 9 as the Elon Musk-led space company prepares for arguably the most anticipated return to flight in the company’s history.

Crew at SpaceX are expected to perform a countdown rehearsal and static engine test fire from Vandenberg Air Force base in the coming days ahead of the planned launch date. The static engine test – a critical preparation procedure that involves firing of engines while the rocket is anchored to the launch pad – was originally planned for Tuesday, Jan 3 but delayed due to unspecified reasons.

Mariners and pilots near the site of the launch were given early preparation notices for Sunday, Jan. 8 at 10:28 a.m., informing them of areas to avoid during the launch, however an updated notice sent by officials at Vandenberg adjusted the date to a day later. The new date marks the third launch delay for SpaceX since its Falcon 9 exploded during a pre-flight test, destroying Facebook’s internet satellite.

The upcoming Jan. 9 launch mission will transport ten next generation satellites into orbit for Virginia-based Iridium Communications. The company will attempt to swap all ten mobile voice and data satellites while orbiting approximately 483 miles above the earth. “The slot swap is like changing out a car tire while moving 17,000 miles an hour,” said Julian Horvath, operations manager for the Iridium NEXT satellite program, via WTOP.

Iridium teased photos last week of the satellites mounted behind Falcon 9’s fairings. The entire payload is said to be worth $284 million and will be the heaviest payload SpaceX has carried to date.

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We’ll be sure to update here as we obtain more specifics about the upcoming return to flight, currently scheduled for Monday, Jan 9. from Vandenberg.

 

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Cybertruck

Tesla unveils new Cybertruck configuration, but not in the U.S. (yet)

Tesla’s Rear-Wheel-Drive trim of the Cybertruck has arrived, but not in the U.S. quite yet.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has officially unveiled a new configuration of the Cybertruck with a new Long Range Rear-Wheel-Drive trim, but it is not yet available in the United States.

Instead, Tesla is advertising the vehicle on its website in Saudi Arabia, a market where it launched deliveries for the first time today, April 10.

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Tesla has always planned to launch this configuration of the Cybertruck, as in November 2019, at the vehicle’s unveiling event, it was the most affordable and most accessible trim, priced at just $39,990.

However, Tesla did not launch it right away, instead focusing on the All-Wheel-Drive trim levels that appeared to be in higher demand. Now, it is gearing up for its launch as planned for late 2025, but it is limiting orders to the Middle East, at least for now.

Specs

The specs of the new Tesla Cybertruck trim are as follows:

  • Range – 350 miles/563 kilometers
  • Acceleration – 6.6 seconds 0-100 km/h
  • Top Speed – 180 kmh/111 MPH
  • No adjustable air suspension
  • No rear touchscreen
  • Price not listed

U.S. Launch

While Tesla has not listed this specific trim of the Cybertruck in North America yet, it is likely that the company will launch it in the United States later this year.

Tesla has said that this trim level would be available in the U.S. in late 2025, and we would imagine that is still the plan. The reasoning for launching it in the Middle East before it heads to the U.S. is unknown, but it could have something to do with regulatory processes, specifically the EPA and its approval processes.

In the broader scope of things, launching this Cybertruck version in the U.S. could help to improve Tesla’s delivery figures for years to come after its launch.

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Many people have been hoping for Tesla to launch a Cybertruck that is more affordable, and it could be a big reason the pickup has not been a bigger seller (despite being the best-selling EV pickup on the market).

This could be the key to unlocking more demand for the Cybertruck, especially in the U.S.

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Cybertruck

Tesla confirms Cybertruck will make its way out of North America this year

The Tesla Cybertruck is headed to a new market outside of North America.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has confirmed that it will officially launch Cybertruck deliveries outside of the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time later this year.

It will be the first time the Cybertruck officially launches outside of North America, and will land in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in late 2025.

Tesla launched deliveries in Saudi Arabia for the first time today, bringing its cars to the Middle East and launching a new market of availability.

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With the big money available in the region, Tesla is surely positioned well, especially as the Cybertruck continues to be a vehicle that celebrities have flocked toward since deliveries began in late 2023.

Tesla will likely be shipping these vehicles from Gigafactory Texas to the Middle East, as both Giga Berlin and Gigafactory Shanghai have not established Cybertruck production lines. It will be interesting to see how soon Tesla can iron out this logistics process and whether it can stick to this timeline.

After the launch of the Cybertruck, many wondered when Tesla would launch it in a market outside of North America. Many speculated whether the company would follow through on the smaller version of the all-electric pickup that CEO Elon Musk hinted toward a few years ago.

Elon Musk hints at smaller Tesla Cybertruck version down the road

However, that smaller design is likely not needed for the roads of Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries. Tesla truly considered that abbreviated version for Europe and Asia, where streets and homes are more compact.

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Investor's Corner

Tesla negativity “priced into the stock at its current levels:” CFRA analyst

The CFRA analyst has given Tesla a price target of $360 per share.

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Credit: Tesla China

In recent comments to the Schwab Network, CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson stated that a lot of the “negative sentiment towards Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is priced into the stock at its current levels.”

The CFRA analyst has given Tesla a price target of $360 per share.

Q1 A Low Point in Sales

The CFRA analyst stated that Tesla’s auto sales likely bottomed last quarter, as noted in an Insider Monkey report. This was, Nelson noted, due to Q1 typically being the “weakest quarter for automakers.” He also highlighted that all four of Tesla’s vehicle factories across the globe were idled in the first quarter.

While Nelson highlighted the company’s changeover to the new Model Y as a factor in Q1, he also acknowledged the effects of CEO Elon Musk’s politics. The analyst noted that while Tesla lost customers due to Musk’s political opinions, the electric vehicle maker has also gained some new customers in the process.

CFRA’s Optimistic Stance

Nelson also highlighted that Tesla’s battery storage business has been growing steadily over the years, ending its second-best quarter in Q1 2025. The analyst noted that Tesla Energy has higher margins than the company’s electric vehicle business, and Tesla itself has a very strong balance sheet.

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The CFRA analyst also predicted that Tesla could gain market share in the United States because it has less exposure to the Trump administration’s tariffs. Teslas are the most American-made vehicles in the country, so the Trump tariffs’ effects on the company will likely be less notable compared to other automakers that produce their cars abroad.

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