8 Sources
[1]
Analyst Dan Ives rode in a Tesla robotaxi and said it exceeded his expectations
Rides around Austin, Texas in Tesla 's robotaxi exceeded high expectations set for the event, according to well-known Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. "Going into it, we expected to be impressed," Ives wrote to clients on Sunday after attending the electric vehicle maker's automated taxi launch event. "But walking away from it, all there is to say is that this is the future." Ives, who took two rides that lasted around 15 minutes on Sunday, described the experience as "comfortable," "safe" and "personalized." He said the car had perfect navigation and picked him up at his exact location. While there was a Tesla operator in the front passenger seat, Ives said they did not do anything to the car and did not comment on anything during the ride. "The ride itself was completely smooth, and it was indistinguishable that the car was driverless as there was never a moment in the vehicle where we felt as if it did something irrational," he said. The back row's touchscreen panel allowed riders to connect their Tesla accounts and sync the Robotaxi app. From there, Ives said they can pull up content from apps such as Netflix, Spotify and Hulu. Ives called the robotaxi launch the "beginning" of Tesla's artificial intelligence story. Once there are enough of them on roads, he said the taxis could be able to start communicating with each other to create an even better travel experience. "Overall, these Robotaxis exceeded our expectations and offered a seamless and personalized travel experience that has lit the spark for autonomous driving," Ives said. Ives maintained his outperform rating. His $500 price target is a Wall Street high and implies 55.2% upside to Friday's closing level, Shares rose more than 1% before the bell on Monday. However, the stock has fallen more than 20% in 2025.
[2]
Tesla could reach $2 trillion in market cap by end of 2026 as autonomous era begins in Austin, says Dan Ives
Wedbush's Dan Ives believes that Tesla "remains the most undervalued AI play in the market today" and could roughly double its value by the end of next year. In a Friday note, the analyst reiterated his outperform rating and $500 price target on the electric vehicle maker. Shares of Tesla closed at $322.05 on Wednesday, meaning that Ives' forecast signals upside of more than 55%. Tesla has struggled this year, plunging more than 20%. TSLA YTD mountain TSLA YTD chart Still, Ives remains bullish on the stock, noting that the "golden era of autonomous for Tesla" officially begins Sunday in Austin with the launch of roughly 20 Model Y robotaxis. He said the rise of autonomous vehicles could drive Tesla's market cap to $2 trillion by the end of 2026 from roughly $1 trillion as of Wednesday's close. It's expected that Tesla will steadily ramp up its robotaxi service to roughly 25 U.S. cities in the next year. Ives added that Tesla's full-scale production of Cybercabs, beginning next year, will be its next key step in monetizing the autonomous vision of the future. "Taking a step back we view this autonomous chapter as one of the most important for Musk and Tesla in its history as a company ... as we believe the AI future at Tesla is worth $1 trillion to the valuation alone over the next few years," Ives wrote. "There will be many setbacks ... but given its unmatched scale and scope globally we believe Tesla has the opportunity to own the autonomous market and down the road license its technology to other auto players both in the U.S. and around the globe." The analyst added that he expects President Donald Trump to help clear the federal regulatory spiderwebs that might have troubled Tesla CEO Elon Musk's autonomous ambitions in the past. "The BFF/frenemy situation with Musk and Trump has created a soap opera on this front but ultimately Trump wants the U.S. to stay ahead of China in this AI Arms Race and autonomous is a key factor in who wins AI ... with Tesla playing a major role on robotaxis," Ives said. "We expect over the coming months an easing of the federal framework for autonomous with more power going to the federal regulators with states having less authority on the autonomous rules/approvals/framework." Tesla shares rose more than 1% in the premarket. Analysts are split on the stock. Of the 55 who cover it, 25 rate it a buy or strong buy, according to LSEG. Another 19 have a hold rating on Tesla, while 11 assigned underperform or sell ratings.
[3]
Tech bull Dan Ives predicts Tesla's robotaxi launch will catapult the company to a $2 trillion market cap, almost double its current value
Tesla is on the cusp of a new era in the company's history, according to the bullish tech investor Dan Ives. As Tesla prepares to launch the early stages of its robotaxi offering in Austin, Texas this weekend, the carmaker will make good on its long-held ambitions to enter the ride-hailing business. Ives, whose Wedbush Securities is often bullish on the tech sector, welcomed the robotaxi launch. "We view this autonomous chapter as one of the most important for Musk and Tesla in its history as a company," he wrote in an analyst note released Friday. The idea that Tesla's self-driving technology would enable it to have a fleet of robotaxis is central to the investment thesis for the company. Its chief executive, Elon Musk, has long outlined his vision of millions of self-driving Teslas shuttling around paying customers as the next phase of the company's future. Musk has said the company's aim is to allow Tesla owners to make their cars part of its robotaxi fleet when they aren't using their cars. The best-case scenario of the robotaxi rollout could essentially double Tesla's market cap by the end of 2026, Ives said. He predicted that Tesla's market cap would reach $2 trillion through next year. Tesla's stock has had a poor year in 2025 so far, declining 15.9% year-to-date. The company reported disappointing sales results earlier this year. Tesla shareholders also found themselves having to contend with forces far outside their control such as a souring relationship between the U.S. and China, its two biggest markets, and Musk's involvement in politics and the Trump administration, which attracted significant scrutiny. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. After the test in Austin, which will start in a geofenced location with about 25 cars, future expansions will be made easier by a favorable regulatory environment. "We fully expect under a [President Donald] Trump White House these key initiatives will now get fast tracked as the federal regulatory spiderweb that Musk & Co. have encountered over the past few years around autonomous clears significantly," Ives said. The excitement of Tesla's most bullish investors, however, put off some others. Earlier this month, investment firm Baird downgraded Tesla's stock from "buy" to "neutral" because it saw the rate at which the robotaxi program would expand as "a bit too optimistic." Baird also highlighted the public tiff between Musk and Trump as raising uncertainty surrounding Tesla's future. Argus Research cited the falling-out as the main reason for its own downgrade, which also came this month. Analysts at Argus feared Tesla's stock was trading on "non-fundamental events," meaning investors were buying and selling the stock for reasons that weren't related to its financials. "Looking ahead, we are concerned that the war of words between President Trump and Elon Musk, along with the expiration of EV credits, could further weaken demand for new Teslas," wrote Argus analyst Bill Selesky. Ives, however, saw past the spat. "The BFF/frenemy situation with Musk and Trump has created a soap opera on this front but ultimately Trump wants the US to stay ahead of China in this AI arms race and autonomous is a key factor in who wins AI with Tesla playing a major role on robotaxis," he said. "We expect over the coming months an easing of the federal framework for autonomous with more power going to the federal regulators with states having less authority on the autonomous rules." Tesla's robotaxi would not be the first autonomous vehicle approved for use in the U.S. Alphabet-owned Waymo is currently available in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. This week, Waymo also announced it had applied for a permit to conduct a test for its autonomous vehicles in New York. Tech giant Amazon also has an autonomous-vehicle initiative called Zoox that is slated to launch in Las Vegas later this year.
[4]
Elon Musk's Mother Recalls Borrowing First Tesla Roadster In 2008 -- Now Celebrates Robotaxi Launch With Joyride In Driverless Car: 'No One Knew What It Was' - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Maye Musk, mother of Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO Elon Musk, commemorated the company's Robotaxi launch by reflecting on her early experience with Tesla's first vehicle nearly two decades ago. What Happened: "In 2008, the Tesla Roadster was launched. I borrowed one for this photoshoot in NYC. No one knew what it was," Maye Musk wrote on X. "And now, it's Tesla Robotaxi day in Austin, Texas. Love the excitement on the X posts - being driven in a car without a driver, steering wheel or pedals is so cool." Tesla officially launched its Robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the autonomous vehicle sector. The small-scale rollout featured over 10 Tesla Model Y vehicles operating in Austin's South Congress neighborhood through an invite-only event targeting social media influencers. The company deployed a dedicated booking app similar to Uber Technologies Inc. UBER for ride-hailing services. Tesla positioned safety monitors in the front seats during operations, though their level of control over the Unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system remains unconfirmed. See Also: US Issues Worldwide Caution After Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Sites: State Department Warns Of Airspace Closures, Travel Chaos And Rising Threats To Americans Abroad Why It Matters: Tesla's entry into autonomous ride-hailing intensifies competition with Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Waymo and Amazon.com Inc.'s AMZN Zoox. Waymo has expanded operations across California and conducts trials nationwide, while Zoox has established a second production facility to scale operations. The launch comes as Tesla faces scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding FSD performance in adverse weather conditions. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives previously valued Tesla's AI and autonomous driving technology at $1 trillion. AdvertisementArrivedBuy shares of homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100. Get StartedWiserAdvisorGet matched with a trusted, local financial advisor for free.Get StartedPoint.comTap into your home's equity to consolidate debt or fund a renovation.Get StartedAdvantage GoldMarkets are volatile: diversify your retirement fund with a gold IRA. Get StartedRobinhoodMove your 401k to Robinhood and get a 3% match on deposits.Get Started Tesla shares climbed 1.5% in Monday pre-market trading following the announcement. The company also announced plans to invest $8 billion in U.S. manufacturing in 2025, following $10 billion invested in 2024. Tesla scores high on Momentum, Quality, and Growth, but falls short on Value. For more insights like this, sign up for Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings today! Read Next: Northrop Grumman Jumps 5% Overnight As B-2 Bombers Return To Missouri After 36-Hour Iran Strike: Trump Says 'Job Well Done' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo Courtesy: Vladimir Tretyakov / Shutterstock.com AMZNAmazon.com Inc$210.100.20%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum61.04Growth97.18Quality69.48Value49.61Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$168.100.22%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$167.250.37%TSLATesla Inc$326.001.19%UBERUber Technologies Inc$83.18-0.72%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
[5]
Tesla Stock Climbs Nearly 2% In Monday Pre-Market: What's Going On? - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)
The shares of Tesla Inc. TSLA climbed 1.50% during Monday's pre-market session, after it unveiled its Robotaxi in Austin, marking a significant milestone in the self-driving taxi industry in the United States. What Happened: The launch event, which took place on Sunday in Austin's South Congress neighborhood, featured over 10 Tesla Model Y Robotaxis. The event was exclusive, with social media influencers as the main riders, who used a dedicated app to book their rides. Tesla had safety monitors in the front seat during the rides, although the extent of their control over the Robotaxi, which was operating on Unsupervised FSD, was not confirmed. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, celebrated the launch on social media, describing it as the "culmination of a decade of hard work". He further revealed that both the AI Chip and the software team responsible for the Robotaxi were built entirely within Tesla. Additionally, Tesla also announced its plans to invest $8 billion in manufacturing in the U.S. in 2025, after investing $10 billion in 2024. Why It Matters: The launch of the Robotaxi comes as Tesla has been hinting at its entry into the self-driving taxi market to compete with companies like Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Waymo and Amazon.com Inc.'s AMZN Zoox. Meanwhile, Tesla has been under the scrutiny of U.S. safety regulators, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reviewing the company's responses regarding the performance of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in adverse weather conditions. Notably, former Tesla AI Chief Andrej Karpathy recently expressed skepticism about the industry's ability to solve the challenge of autonomous driving. Earlier, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives had predicted a transformative future for Tesla, valuing its AI and autonomous driving technology at a staggering $1 trillion. READ MORE: US Issues Worldwide Caution After Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Sites: State Department Warns Of Airspace Closures, Travel Chaos And Rising Threats To Americans Abroad - Benzinga Image via Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. AMZNAmazon.com Inc$210.320.30%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum61.04Growth97.18Quality69.48Value49.61Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$168.180.27%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$167.450.49%TSLATesla Inc$326.801.44%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
[6]
Winning And Losing Stocks From Tesla's Driverless Taxi Test - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT)
You may not have noticed, but on Sunday, June 22, the world of cars changed forever. That was when regular consumers for the first time got to take a $4.20-ride around Austin, Texas, in driverless taxis, courtesy of Tesla TSLA and Elon Musk. The robotaxi test took place in a sectioned, geofenced area of Austin, with selected Tesla owners in the back seat, a Tesla employee on hand for emergencies in the front passenger seat, and no one physically behind the wheel. By the end of the day, feedback began rolling in on social media, and it was overwhelmingly positive. "We took two approximately 15-minute rides around Austin and the key takeaways are that it was a comfortable, safe, and personalized experience," noted Dan Ives, a Wedbush analyst, in a research note released later in the day on June 22. "The robotaxis we experienced today were foundational, and there is a path for the future where these robotaxis may also have Grok integration, interior customization, and a much more user-centric focus as there's no longer a need to focus on the driver experience," Ives added. He's not alone. "Today transportation changed FOREVER!" said JoshWest247 on X, after his test drive. "Robotaxi=FREEDOM!" Amidst talk of the Tesla robotaxi adding $1 trillion in value to the company, plans are afoot to manage vehicle growth gradually, with 50 in operation by the fourth quarter of 2025 in Austin and 1,000-plus on the streets by year-end 2026. Tesla is also mapping out a California robotaxi expansion, targeting 2026, pending approval from the state. Over time, Tesla aims to replace Model Ys with its Cybercab robotaxi vehicle. At first glance, the driverless future is golden, although there's plenty of highway miles ahead for industry leaders. At the very least, the Austin tests may serve as the launch point of a revolutionary new industry that changes everything we think we know about road transportation. "Tesla's autonomous taxi test in Austin signals a very real shift toward mainstream adoption of robotaxis, not just a speculative future," said Kazimieras Urbonas, car analyst and supplier excellence manager at Ovoko, a technology-based auto parts company. "The major takeaway is that we're no longer just talking about autonomy, we're piloting it at scale. This shows growing maturity in Tesla's FSD (Full Self-Driving) tech, which will inevitably pressure other automakers to speed up their timelines." According to Urbonas, driverless transport will be one of the most transformative changes in mobility, comparable to the transition from combustion to electric power. "While rollout will vary by region due to infrastructure and legal constraints, the long-term implications for logistics, ride-hailing, and even public transport are enormous," he noted. "Think safer roads, lower costs, and new urban design models." As the smoke cleared from the test date, Wall Street commenced buzzing over the trading prospects of autonomous vehicle makers and which companies may be left behind as history is made with the first driverless taxi rollout. Independence From Trading Tool Chaos Stop switching between news apps, scanners, and alert systems that don't communicate with each other. Get our exclusive Benzinga Wire, smart filtering, and integrated tools in one professional platform. Declare Trading Independence HERE at 60% off. Which stocks will rock on as robotaxis get all too real, and which will go the way of horse and carriage after Henry Ford rolled up in a small, four-wheeled vehicle he called a Quadricycle on June 4, 1896? Here are a few candidates on both sides of the road. WinnersTesla Benzinga Quality Ranking: 83.17 The carmaker's share price only popped by 1.2% in the five days following the Austin robotaxi tests, but the moment may have established Tesla as the king of the driverless transport hill, for now at least. Tesla has a lot on the line with autonomous vehicles, which comprises about 59% of the company's price target, amounting to $181 per share or $800 billion in implied value, according to RBC Capital. "If Tesla can iron out safety concerns and scale fast, they could dominate the driverless car industry," said John Ellmore, EV Fleet Editor at UK-based KnowYourBusiness. Alphabet Benzinga Quality Ranking: 86.66 Google's GOOG Waymo driverless taxi doesn't get the massive press that Tesla and Musk garner, but it's actually ahead of the curve on robotaxi testing. It's already up and running in four U.S. cities, with plans to roll out its autonomous vehicles in 17 more. It intends to launch commercially by 2026 or 2027. All told, Waymo is expected to account for 10% of the AV marketplace by the end of the decade. Nvidia Benzinga Growth Ranking: 98.61 Chipmaking giant Nvidia NVDA should benefit from the headway made by companies like TSLA and Waymo. "Nvidia's chips already power most autonomous driving systems," Urbonas said. "More driverless vehicles equal more demand." LosersUber Benzinga Growth Ranking: 97.49 Uber's UBER stock hasn't suffered from Tesla's wave of media coverage following its Austin testing weekend - it's up 8.36% this week alone. Analysts point to Uber's burgeoning relationship with Waymo and the fact that the company has entered into AV testing with Volkswagen and Pony AI. Yet over the long haul, Uber doesn't seem to have a clear-cut path in competing with driverless taxis, which promise to be cheaper and more pervasive once Tesla and Waymo vehicles hit the open road. Lyft Benzinga Growth Ranking: 56.43 San Francisco-based ride-sharing company Lyft LYFT has seen its shares rise to the mid-teens (it was trading at $15.46 on June 27). Its stock is up 19% year-to-date. The firm plans to roll out its own AV line in Dallas over the next few months, with plans to expand to Canada and Europe the following year. Still, the math is working against Lyft. It's already behind Uber in the rideshare market by a 30%-to-70% ratio. The company will be hard-pressed to compete with industry heavyweights like Tesla, which is expected to reach a $1 trillion market share within the next five years. "Traditional ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft could see margin compression as autonomous fleets reduce human labor costs," Urbonas added. Traditional auto makers and auto parts companies Legacy automakers without robust EV and autonomous vehicle pipelines could fall behind. "That's particularly the case with those companies reliant on fleet sales and dealer-driven models," Urbonas said. "Auto parts suppliers focused on mechanical components (e.g., internal combustion parts) could also struggle as electric-autonomous systems reduce part complexity and maintenance." Traditional auto repair chains could also struggle, and they won't be alone. "Fewer moving parts mean fewer breakdowns," said Luis Montes, a heavy-duty transport equipment expert and chief editor at Fortis HD. "Fuel providers take a hit if the shift is electric-heavy. Public transport might also lose funding if private driverless fleets get political backing. Even parking real estate will lose relevance if cars start circulating instead of idling." Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga. Photo: Shutterstock GOOGAlphabet Inc$173.98-0.26%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum28.26Growth87.02Quality86.66Value52.96Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewLYFTLyft Inc$15.65-1.23%NVDANVIDIA Corp$157.141.37%TSLATesla Inc$323.11-0.82%UBERUber Technologies Inc$90.99-2.29%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
[7]
Tesla's AI Future Is Worth $1 Trillion, Says Dan Ives: 'Golden Era Of Autonomous' Begins With Robotaxi Launch - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
As Tesla Inc. TSLA prepares to launch its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday, June 22, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has predicted a transformative future for the company, pegging its artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving technology at a staggering $1 trillion valuation. What Happened: In a post on X, Ives hailed the upcoming rollout as the start of a "golden era of autonomous" for Tesla, underscoring Elon Musk's vision to pivot the company toward driverless vehicles and AI innovation. Ives' bullish forecast comes as Tesla gears up to debut its robotaxi service, a milestone first hinted at by Musk in January. The launch follows reports of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system logging over 1 billion miles of supervised autonomy data by 2024, fueling optimism among investors. However, the move has sparked contention. On June 18, a group of Democratic Texas lawmakers urged Tesla to delay the launch until September, when a new autonomous-driving law takes effect, citing safety concerns over the technology's readiness. Despite the lawmakers' request, Ives remains undeterred, suggesting the AI-driven future could significantly boost Tesla's market value in the coming years. See Also: This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days -- Now Expert Says It 'Looks Potentially Explosive' Why It Matters: Robotaxis are steadily growing in the U.S., as Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Waymo announced it will be further expanding its presence in California. TSLA shares were 1.79% higher in premarket on Friday. The stock was down 15.09% year-to-date, but it has returned 77.37% over the year. About 27 analysts tracked by Benzinga, covering TSLA, have a consensus target price of $309.76 apiece, with a 'hold' rating. The targets range from $19.05 to $500, and the recent ratings by Piper Sandler, Morgan Stanley, and Baird imply a 15.01% upside for the stock. Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that Tesla had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid; however, its value ranking was poor at the 9.62th percentile. The details of other metrics are available here. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF QQQ, which track the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.29% at $595.68, while the QQQ rose 0.19% to $529.16, according to Benzinga Pro data. Read Next: Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors Photo courtesy: Shutterstock GOOGAlphabet Inc$170.04-2.26%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum34.98Growth87.71Quality85.73Value52.19Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGLAlphabet Inc$168.96-2.52%QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1$526.13-0.54%SPYSPDR S&P 500$593.59-0.65%TSLATesla Inc$321.70-0.11%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
[8]
Dan Ives Hails 'Very Impressive' Robotaxi Ride In Austin, Predicts 55% Upside For Tesla Stock As 'Golden Age Begins' - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Wedbush Securities Analyst Dan Ives has praised Tesla Inc. TSLA Robotaxi after the official rollout of the service in Austin, Texas. What Happened: "We attended Tesla's Robotaxi launch in Austin, TX and got the opportunity to take multiple rides in a Robotaxi," the analyst said in a note released on Sunday. Ives noted that he expected to be "impressed" by the technology before the launch, but praised the technology as exceeding expectations. "This is the future," the note said. "We took two approximately 15-minute rides around Austin and the key takeaways are that it was a comfortable, safe, and personalized experience. The ride itself was completely smooth, and it was indistinguishable that the car was driverless," the note highlighted. Ives also reiterated the $500 price target for Tesla, which is an over 55% upside on the stock's value, as well as maintained an "Outperform" rating on Tesla following the Robotaxi launch. The note also outlined the potential for Grok, which is Musk's AI venture, xAI's artificial intelligence model and its integration into Robotaxis in the future. Why It Matters: The rating comes in as Tesla launched Robotaxis in Austin during a limited rollout, with 10 Tesla Model Ys. The event was invite-only, with some influencers testing the service on Sunday. While the rollout has impressed early users, Tesla still faces questions over its FSD tech from U.S. regulators, who are reviewing the company's responses to the NHTSA's inquiries about the FSD technology's viability and capabilities in poor weather conditions. Robotaxi rival Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Waymo has announced it is conducting tests in other parts of the U.S. outside of California amid expansion of services in the state. Tesla scores well on Momentum, Quality and Growth metrics, but offers poor Value. For more such insights, sign up for Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings today! Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link. Read Next: Elon Musk Says Tesla Works Closely With xAI: 'You Can Either Be A Spectator...' Photo courtesy: Shutterstock TSLATesla Inc$324.400.70%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum83.28Growth91.40Quality81.00Value9.62Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$167.31-0.25%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$166.40-0.14%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Share
Copy Link
Tesla unveils its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, garnering positive reviews and boosting investor confidence. Analysts predict significant market growth potential for the company's autonomous driving technology.
Tesla has officially launched its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, marking a significant milestone in the autonomous vehicle industry. The launch event, which took place on Sunday in Austin's South Congress neighborhood, featured over 10 Tesla Model Y vehicles operating as robotaxis 45. The small-scale rollout targeted social media influencers and utilized a dedicated booking app similar to other ride-hailing services 4.
Source: CNBC
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who attended the launch event, expressed enthusiasm about the robotaxi service. After taking two 15-minute rides, Ives described the experience as "comfortable," "safe," and "personalized" 1. He noted that the navigation was perfect, and the ride was indistinguishable from a human-driven vehicle 1.
Ives maintains an outperform rating on Tesla stock with a $500 price target, implying a 55.2% upside from recent closing levels 12. He predicts that Tesla's market cap could reach $2 trillion by the end of 2026, nearly doubling its current value, driven by the potential of its autonomous technology 23.
The robotaxi vehicles are equipped with touchscreen panels in the back row, allowing riders to connect their Tesla accounts and access content from apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu 1. While safety monitors were present in the front seats during the initial launch, their level of control over the Unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system remains unconfirmed 45.
Tesla plans to expand the robotaxi service to approximately 25 U.S. cities in the next year 2. The company is also preparing for full-scale production of Cybercabs, set to begin next year, as the next key step in monetizing its autonomous vision 2.
The launch comes amid a complex regulatory landscape for autonomous vehicles. Ives suggests that the Trump administration may help clear federal regulatory hurdles, potentially fast-tracking key initiatives in the autonomous driving sector 23.
Tesla's entry into the autonomous ride-hailing market intensifies competition with other players such as Alphabet's Waymo and Amazon's Zoox 45. Waymo is currently operating in several U.S. cities and has applied for a permit to test in New York, while Zoox is preparing to launch in Las Vegas 3.
Source: Benzinga
Following the robotaxi launch announcement, Tesla's stock rose more than 1% in pre-market trading 15. The company also revealed plans to invest $8 billion in U.S. manufacturing in 2025, following a $10 billion investment in 2024 45.
While some analysts remain bullish on Tesla's prospects, others have expressed caution. Baird recently downgraded Tesla's stock from "buy" to "neutral," citing concerns about the rate of robotaxi program expansion and potential uncertainties surrounding CEO Elon Musk's public interactions 3.
Source: Fortune
The launch of Tesla's robotaxi service represents a significant step forward in the company's autonomous driving ambitions. As the program expands and faces real-world challenges, its success could have far-reaching implications for the future of transportation and Tesla's position in the global AI and automotive markets.
Summarized by
Navi
OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Agent, a powerful AI assistant capable of performing complex tasks across multiple platforms, marking a significant advancement in agentic AI technology.
26 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
26 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) posts record quarterly profit driven by strong AI chip demand, raising its 2025 revenue growth forecast to 30% despite potential challenges.
7 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
7 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
Slack introduces a suite of AI-driven tools to improve search, summarization, and communication within its platform, aiming to streamline workplace collaboration and compete with other tech giants in the enterprise productivity space.
9 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
9 Sources
Technology
1 hr ago
Nvidia and AMD are set to resume sales of AI chips to China as part of a broader US-China trade deal involving rare earth elements, sparking debates on national security and technological competition.
3 Sources
Policy and Regulation
10 hrs ago
3 Sources
Policy and Regulation
10 hrs ago
Google introduces advanced AI capabilities to Search, including Gemini 2.5 Pro integration, Deep Search for comprehensive research, and an AI agent for business inquiries.
3 Sources
Technology
2 hrs ago
3 Sources
Technology
2 hrs ago