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SpaceX Boosts Tesla Megapack Purchases To Support AI Expansion

SpaceX spent $329 million on Tesla’s Megapack battery systems during the first half of 2026, highlighting the growing energy demands of the company’s expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure.

According to SpaceX’s latest earnings report, $295 million of those purchases were made during the second quarter alone, marking a sharp increase in investment in large-scale energy storage.

Powering AI Infrastructure

The battery systems are expected to support SpaceX’s AI data centre operations, where electricity demand fluctuates significantly as computing workloads increase during AI training and inference.

Megapacks help stabilise power consumption by storing electricity and providing additional capacity during periods of peak demand, while also serving as backup power in the event of outages.

Growing Links Across Musk’s Companies

The purchases further illustrate the close operational ties between Elon Musk’s businesses. Before merging with SpaceX earlier this year, xAI had also invested heavily in Tesla’s battery storage systems for its own data centres.

SpaceX’s regulatory filing also showed the company had previously purchased $131 million worth of Tesla Cybertrucks, reflecting continued commercial activity between Musk-led companies.

AI Drives Infrastructure Investment

As AI companies expand computing capacity, demand for energy infrastructure is rising alongside investment in data centres. Battery storage has become an increasingly important component of those facilities, helping operators manage electricity costs while maintaining stable performance during intensive computing workloads.

Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

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