GM vs. Tesla: How a $10,000 bet played out over three years
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on July 23, 2026.
General Motors crushed Tesla over three years in the EV race, turning $10,000 into $21,166 while Tesla limped to $11,882. The old guard's 112% gain demolished the disruptor's 19% return.
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General Motors turned in one of the more surprising performances in the EV space over the three years ending July 2026, compounding a $10,000 starting stake into $21,166 — a gain of roughly 112%. Tesla, the company most investors associate with the electric-vehicle revolution, managed only a 19% return over the same period, leaving that same $10,000 worth just $11,882.
The gap between the two is stark: GM's 2.12x multiple against Tesla's 1.19x means the Detroit legacy automaker more than doubled investors' money while the disruptor barely moved the needle. That kind of underperformance from Tesla is notable given how much of its valuation has historically rested on growth expectations in precisely the market where GM has been closing ground.
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The three-year window began in late July 2023, and the chart data shows GM's path was far from straight — the stock dipped well below its starting value before staging a sustained climb in the back half of the period. Tesla's ride was similarly volatile, including a sharp run-up before retreating. Investors comparing the two names will want to watch whether GM can sustain its momentum and whether Tesla's recent pullback from its highs marks a turning point or a longer-term reset.