Tesla Semi records first fatal accident – Burry bets against TSLA

A Tesla Semi was involved in an accident early in the week in which two people died – the first known fatal incident with Tesla's electric semi-truck, as Forbes reported on July 1, 2026. The model has only been in regular production since this year.

The incident occurs during a period in which the California-based electric vehicle manufacturer faces multiple challenges. At the same time, investor Michael Burry, known as a "Big Short" investor, built a short position against Tesla.

Burry bets against Tesla, Nvidia and Micron

Michael Burry announced short positions against Nvidia, Tesla and Micron in two Substack posts this week, as The Motley Fool reported on July 4, 2026. A short position is a bet that a stock's price will fall – the investor borrows shares, sells them and hopes to buy them back later at a lower price.

Burry became known through his successful bet against the U.S. real estate market ahead of the 2008 financial crisis, which was depicted in the film "The Big Short." His current positions are directed against three companies in the technology and electric mobility sectors.

Rivian raises annual guidance – Tesla under pressure

While Tesla made headlines with the fatal Semi accident, competitor Rivian had positive news to report. The electric vehicle manufacturer delivered a total of 12,194 vehicles in the second quarter of 2026 – above its own guidance of 9,000 to 11,000 units, as The Motley Fool reported on July 4, 2026.

Based on strong quarterly results, Rivian raised its annual guidance to 65,000 to 70,000 vehicles, after previously providing guidance of 62,000 to 67,000 deliveries. The report described Tesla shares in this context as having "stumbled."

Cathie Wood buys Tesla shares

Despite the negative headlines, Ark Invest founder Cathie Wood apparently used the situation to enter positions. According to The Motley Fool of July 5, 2026, Wood bought Tesla shares – along with two other stocks that had "fallen out of favor" or were among the "biggest losers" on Thursday.

Wood is known for her long-term focus on disruptive technologies and traditionally holds larger positions in Tesla through her Ark funds. The purchase suggests that she views the current weakness as a buying opportunity.

Shift from copper to aluminum in the industry

Regardless of current turbulence, Tesla, along with other manufacturers, is relying on technological advancement in vehicle wiring. Ferrari and BMW are bringing new models with lighter and more cost-effective aluminum wiring to market and thus accelerating the shift away from copper, as Reuters reported on June 30, 2026.

Copper had been the dominant material for electrical wiring since the invention of the electric battery two centuries ago. Tesla and Chinese manufacturers had already made the switch to aluminum previously. The conversion enables weight savings and cost reductions – two central factors in electric mobility.