Tesla’s Slump, Apple’s Rise, Meta’s Chip Play, and Heathrow Expansion

26th November 2025

Tesla Europe Sales October EV registrations fell nearly 50%, with competitors like BYD and SAIC gaining. Full self-driving approvals could help stabilize demand.Meta & Google Chips Meta may spend billions on Google’s AI chips, challenging Nvidia’s dominance in the data center market. Apple Tops Smartphones. Apple surpasses Samsung in global shipments for the first time since 2011, driven by iPhone 17 demand and favorable market conditions. Heathrow’s  Third Runway, UK government backs Heathrow’s £49B expansion plan, including M25 diversion, amid environmental and local resident concerns; planning approval expected by 2029. All this and more in today’s Read It and Eat! 

Major News 

Tesla’s European Sales Plunge as Competition Heats Up

Tesla is facing a challenging stretch in Europe, with October sales dropping sharply. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), Tesla registered just 6,964 electric vehicles last month a nearly 50% decline from the same period last year. This comes even as the overall European EV market continues to grow, with total EV registrations up nearly 33% in October and overall vehicle registrations up 4.9%. Despite the launch of the revamped Model Y, Tesla’s sales have now fallen for ten consecutive months, reflecting growing competition and waning brand enthusiasm in key markets.

Year-to-date figures paint a similarly tough picture. Through the first ten months of 2025, Tesla’s European sales are down 29.6% to 180,688 units, and the company’s market share has slipped from 2.4% to just 1.6%. Meanwhile, rivals are seizing the opportunity: Chinese EV giant BYD saw European sales surge 207% to 17,470 vehicles, and SAIC climbed 46% to nearly 24,000. The contrast highlights how competitors are steadily eroding Tesla’s foothold, despite the automaker’s high-profile brand and product launches.

Interestingly, the European sales slump hasn’t dampened investor enthusiasm for Tesla stock. Shares jumped nearly 7% recently after Melius Research highlighted the company’s autonomous vehicle ambitions and CEO Elon Musk emphasized progress in chipmaking. Analyst Rob Wertheimer noted that the upcoming wave of autonomous driving could “change everything about the driving ecosystem,” underscoring how the market is increasingly valuing Tesla’s tech potential over near-term sales numbers.

For European buyers, there may still be hope on the horizon. Tesla’s latest full self-driving (FSD) software is under review in Europe, with the Netherlands’ RDW automotive authority planning demonstrations in February to assess compliance. Approval from even one European regulator could be a pivotal step, potentially reinvigorating demand and helping Tesla stabilize its sales in the region. Until then, the company faces mounting pressure from rivals and the challenge of regaining momentum in a rapidly expanding EV market. Finance.Yahoo 

Meta Explores Billions in Google Chip Deals, Challenging Nvidia’s AI Dominance

Meta Platforms is reportedly in discussions with Google to spend billions on the tech giant’s chips for its data centers starting in 2027, signaling a potential shift in the AI hardware landscape. According to The Information, the talks could also involve Meta renting Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs) as soon as next year. This move would represent a major expansion of Google’s TPU business, which has so far been mostly confined to the company’s own data centers, and position Google as a serious competitor to semiconductor leader Nvidia.

The potential partnership could have significant financial implications. Some Google Cloud executives believe the strategy might capture up to 10% of Nvidia’s annual revenue, translating to billions of dollars. Alphabet shares jumped more than 4% in premarket trading following the report, while Nvidia’s stock dipped 3.2%. Broadcom, which helps manufacture Google’s AI chips, also saw a modest 2% gain, reflecting growing investor optimism about Google’s expanding role in AI infrastructure.

The deal would be a major coup for Google, especially since Meta is one of Nvidia’s largest customers, with plans to spend up to $72 billion this year on AI infrastructure. The AI chip market has been booming, with demand surging for alternatives to Nvidia’s supply-constrained graphics processors. Companies like Anthropic are already expanding their use of Google chips, highlighting the increasing viability of TPUs as a competitor to Nvidia’s entrenched hardware.

Still, dislodging Nvidia won’t be easy. Nvidia’s CUDA software platform has been a mainstay for developers worldwide for nearly two decades, with over 4 million developers relying on it for AI and other applications. Overcoming that ecosystem will be a major hurdle for Google, but the combination of Meta’s potential spending, investor backing, and momentum from Google Cloud’s growth could make the tech giant a formidable new contender in the AI chip market. Finance.Yahoo 

Apple Reclaims Top Spot as World’s Largest Smartphone Maker After 14 Years

Apple is set to reclaim the crown as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer for the first time since 2011, surpassing Samsung Electronics, according to a Counterpoint Research report cited by Bloomberg. The tech giant is projected to capture a 19.4% share of global smartphone shipments this year, fueled by a 10% increase in iPhone sales compared to Samsung’s 4.6% growth in Galaxy devices. This marks a notable shift in the smartphone landscape, highlighting Apple’s ability to drive demand even in a highly competitive market.

While Apple has long dominated smartphone revenue thanks to its premium pricing strategy, Samsung has traditionally led in shipment volume by offering a broader range of devices across all price tiers. Apple’s recent surge, however, reflects its growing appeal in both established markets like the U.S. and emerging markets such as China, where the iPhone 17 series has been particularly well-received. Factors such as easing U.S.-China trade tensions and a weaker dollar have also helped make Apple’s devices more competitive internationally.

Looking ahead, Counterpoint forecasts that Apple will maintain its lead until 2029. The company plans to expand its product lineup with foldable iPhones and a budget-friendly “iPhone 17e,” while potentially splitting its annual product launches into two cycles to boost sales. Analysts point out that the current growth is partly driven by the product replacement cycle, as many consumers who bought phones during the pandemic are now upgrading their devices.

Samsung, meanwhile, faces increasing pressure not only from Apple but also from Chinese smartphone manufacturers. Chinese brands are making significant inroads into both the budget and premium segments, particularly in the foldable phone market, where they now lead globally. This growing competition, combined with Apple’s renewed momentum, underscores a dynamic shift in the global smartphone industry and sets the stage for an increasingly competitive next decade. TheChosun 

Government Backs Heathrow’s Plan for Longer Third Runway

The UK government has chosen Heathrow Airport’s plan for a third runway, which involves diverting the M25 motorway, over a rival proposal from the Arora Group. Heathrow’s plan features a new 3.5km runway and a road tunnel under the airport, while the Arora scheme offered a shorter, lower-cost runway that would not have affected the motorway. Although the government has selected Heathrow’s approach, a final decision on construction approval is still years away, with planning permission expected by 2029.

Heathrow’s ambitious expansion project, estimated at £49 billion, aims to increase annual passenger capacity from 84 million to 150 million and handle up to 756,000 flights. The plan also includes the development of a new terminal (T5X), upgrades to existing terminals, improved rail and bus connections, and motorway widening. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized that the expansion is vital for the UK’s hub airport, supporting trade, tourism, and job growth while meeting environmental and economic goals.

The decision has been welcomed by Heathrow and business groups, who see the expansion as critical for maintaining connectivity and boosting investment. However, it faces strong opposition from environmental campaigners, local residents, and some political leaders. Critics argue the project will increase noise and air pollution, disrupt local communities, and clash with the UK’s climate targets. Local residents, like Justine Bayley, have expressed concern that their homes could become effectively uninhabitable due to the runway’s proximity.

Despite the controversy, the government noted that Heathrow’s plan is better developed and involves fewer residential relocations than the Arora alternative. The longer runway also promises greater flexibility for future aircraft. The next phase will require careful regulatory oversight and financial planning to ensure construction costs are covered without overburdening airlines or passengers. Heathrow officials are seeking clarity on how fees and regulations will be managed as the project moves forward. BBC 

Minor News 

• Paramount in Talks to Revive ‘Rush Hour 4’ Following Trump Lobbying Effort. TheGuardian 

• Campbell’s Soup Executive Placed on Leave Amid Controversial Lawsuit Claim. NBCNews 

• HP Plans to Cut Around 6,000 Jobs Amid AI Expansion. Finance.Yahoo

• Apollo, Ares, and BlackRock Sued Over Alleged Credit Market Cartel. WallStreetJournal 

• Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Term for Coup Attempt. BBC 

• French Authorities Arrest Four More Suspects Linked to Louvre Heist. BBC 

• Trump signals he may avoid extending Obamacare subsidies. Reuters 

• Taxi apps accused of coordinating with Uber to drive up fares. Reuters