Markets Insider

Tesla's stock was down 5.16% on Monday following a string of negative news stories.

Jalopnik reported that Tesla will fall short of its first-quarter production targets, citing a leaked Elon Musk memo.

The company is expected to fall short of first-quarter vehicle deliveries and earnings projections, Moody's has downgraded its debt, and the company is involved in a National Transportation Safety Board investigation over a crash involving its Autopilot driving system.

Still, Musk made light of the news in a series of tweets, claiming Tesla was going "bankrupt" and he was drinking too much tequila.

Watch Tesla's stock price move in real time here.

Shares of Tesla were down 5.16% on Monday following the latest revelation that the electric automaker fell short of its first-quarter Model 3 production targets in a leaked company email from CEO Elon Musk that was obtained by Jalopnik.

This is one of many pressures the company is facing. Over the weekend, Musk made light of Tesla's predicament by tweeting out an April Fools' joke about Tesla going "bankrupt" and commenting that he was drinking too much tequila.

However, the company has serious problems ahead as the carmaker struggles to contain a wave of negative news including analyst forecast cuts for its first-quarter vehicle deliveries and earnings, a Moody's downgrade of its debt, and a car crash involving the company's semi-autonomous driving system, Autopilot.

The company is expected to report deliveries of its mass-market Model 3 coming in well below its previous projections, as well as a financial loss as the company struggles to address its production bottlenecks and deliver its Model 3 to customers.

Moreover, Moody's downgrade of Tesla's debt only serves to dampen investors mood around the company. Most carmakers rely on a good credit rating because production and operating costs are capital intensive.

Meanwhile, the company is facing yet another National Transportation Safety Board investigation into a deadly crash involving its semi-self driving system, Autopilot. The fatal crash in California last week follows a deadly 2016 Autopilot crash in Florida that is still under investigation.

Still, Tesla shareholders showed confidence in the company's leader, approving a new performance-based compensation package for Musk, which is contingent upon Tesla reaching a $650 billion market cap.

Tesla's stock was trading at $252.39 per share. It was down 21.53% for the year.

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