-

KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Tesla Sustainable Energy Business Trust 2026-1

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to four classes of notes totaling $359.87 million issued by Tesla Sustainable Business Energy Trust 2026-1 ("TSET 2026-1" or the "Issuer"), an ABS transaction secured by residential solar retail installment contracts ("RICs").

TSET 2026-1 represents the second overall residential solar RIC ABS securitization for Tesla Finance. TSET 2026-1 will issue four classes of notes totaling $359.87 million. The transaction is collateralized by a pool of residential solar RICs originated by Tesla and subsequently sold to the Company. The RICs were used by obligors for the purchase and installation of PV Systems, Solar Roofs, Energy Storage Systems, and related equipment. Tesla Finance will act as the Sponsor, Servicer and Administrator for this transaction. The Company has previously sponsored one securitization comprised of auto loans and 11 securitizations comprised of auto leases.

Tesla Finance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesla and is based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla Finance was formed in October 2013 as the captive finance company of Tesla and currently has operations in 46 states. The Company provides financing for Tesla customers to acquire Tesla vehicles, solar systems, and/or energy storage systems.

KBRA applied its General Global Rating Methodology for Asset-Backed Securities, as well as its Consumer Loan ABS Global Rating Methodology, and its Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology. In applying the methodologies, KBRA analyzed Tesla Finance's portfolio pool data, underlying collateral pool, and proposed capital structure under stressed cash flow assumptions. KBRA considered its operational review of Tesla Finance. Operative agreements and legal opinions will be reviewed prior to closing.

To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

Click here to view the report.

Methodologies

Disclosures

Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above.

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA), one of the major credit rating agencies (CRA), is a full-service CRA registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, KBRA is designated as a Designated Rating Organization (DRO) by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized as a Qualified Rating Agency by Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission and is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP) in the U.S.

Doc ID: 1014899

Contacts

Analytical Contacts

Melvin Zhou, Managing Director (Lead Analyst)
+1 646-731-2412
melvin.zhou@kbra.com

Dan DePaulo, Associate
+1 646-731-1259
dan.depaulo@kbra.com

Shivani Patel, Associate Director
+1 646-731-1483
shivani.patel@kbra.com

Rahel Avigdor, Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)
+1 646-731-1203
rahel.avigdor@kbra.com

Business Development Contact

Arielle Smelkinson, Senior Director
+1 646-731-2369
arielle.smelkinson@kbra.com

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC

Details
Headquarters: New York City, New York
CEO: Jim Nadler
Employees: 400+
Organization: PRI

Release Versions

Contacts

Analytical Contacts

Melvin Zhou, Managing Director (Lead Analyst)
+1 646-731-2412
melvin.zhou@kbra.com

Dan DePaulo, Associate
+1 646-731-1259
dan.depaulo@kbra.com

Shivani Patel, Associate Director
+1 646-731-1483
shivani.patel@kbra.com

Rahel Avigdor, Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)
+1 646-731-1203
rahel.avigdor@kbra.com

Business Development Contact

Arielle Smelkinson, Senior Director
+1 646-731-2369
arielle.smelkinson@kbra.com

Social Media Profiles
More News From Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC

KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to A&D Mortgage Trust 2026-NQM4 (ADMT 2026-NQM4)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to 10 classes of mortgage pass-through certificates from ADMT 2026-NQM4, a $407.0 million non-prime RMBS transaction sponsored by Atlas A&D Opportunity Fund III LP, with the majority of the loans being originated by A&D Mortgage, LLC or one of its qualified correspondents. The underlying collateral, comprising 979 residential mortgages, is characterized by a significant concentration of loans underwritten using alternative inco...

KBRA Releases Research – Capping Graduate Lending: A Tailwind for Student Loan ABS Supply

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA releases research that examines the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's (OBBBA) potential to increase student loan ABS issuance beginning in July 2026 by creating a structural funding gap in graduate education. By capping federal borrowing and eliminating Graduate PLUS (Grad PLUS) for new borrowers, the legislation will shift incremental loan demand toward private lenders—some of which rely on securitization as a core funding source. In this report, we examine the size...

KBRA Releases Research – Private Credit: In Middle Market Direct Lending, Cash Is King

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA releases research examining cash flow metrics, including cash flow from operations (CFO), CFO-to-EBITDA, CFO-to-Interest, and CFO-to-Capital Expenditures, for its portfolio of more than 2,400 unique global middle market sponsor-backed borrowers assessed for the last 12 months (LTM) ended March 31, 2026. These metrics, although nonstandard, provide a deeper view of the portfolio and reveal a story that differs from the industry-standard metrics analyzed in the qua...
Back to Newsroom