Tesla shares gained 1.2% in early Thursday trading, as investors weighed ongoing brand and geopolitical pressures against optimism around the company's AI ambitions, according to Barron's. The stock remains down 3.8% for the week, dragged by sharp sales declines in key markets. Tesla’s April sales in Germany dropped 46% year-over-year, a slight improvement from a 62% drop in the first quarter. Sales in China declined 15% over the past five weeks amid consumer preference for domestic brands, driven by President Trump’s trade war. CEO Elon Musk has pledged to focus more on Tesla’s Texas headquarters, acknowledging “brand image challenges.”