[tristanj]

I am not familiar with this area but based on the glossary here https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Trader.aspx?id=tradehaltcodes , it seems if the halt was done by the exchange it would have a T12 halt code. SteveGregory's comment cites Tesla trading was halted using a T1 halt code (defined as "Trading is halted pending the release of material news"), which I assume would be initiated by Tesla.

[belltaco]

To further muddy the waters, Fox News business on the latest updates casually mentions that the regulators have halted it, not sure if it's true.

[pgeorgi]

"the regulators halted trading after a request by Tesla" could be true and not mean what you seem to think their statement means.