Better EV Stock: Ford vs. Tesla

Core Insights - The comparison between Ford and Tesla highlights the future direction of the auto industry, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and robotaxis, with both companies facing similar opportunities and challenges [1] - Tesla's full-self-driving (FSD) robotaxi is seen as a strategic move to counteract declining sales and market share, while major automakers recognize the profit potential of robotaxis through recurring income from ride-per-mile revenue [2] Electric Vehicles and Affordability - Automakers need to make EVs more affordable to ensure their future viability, as current EVs are not cheap [2] - Ford's CEO emphasized the importance of developing affordable EVs to achieve profitability, indicating a shift in strategy [4] Robotaxi Development - Ford has faced setbacks in its robotaxi plans, notably after the shutdown of Argo AI, while Tesla is preparing to launch its unsupervised FSD/robotaxi service [14][15] - Tesla's ability to transform existing vehicles into robotaxis and produce a dedicated model, the Cybercab, gives it a competitive edge [8] Financial Performance - Ford's Model E segment reported significant losses, with a loss of $5.1 billion in 2024 and $849 million in Q1 2025, indicating challenges in achieving a profitable EV business [10] - In contrast, Tesla generated $7.1 billion in operating profit in 2024 and maintained a dominant market share of 43.5% in Q1 2025, compared to Ford's 7.7% [11] Future Outlook - Both companies plan to release low-cost models, but Tesla's ability to lower its average cost per car positions it better for sustainable profitability [13] - The auto industry is moving towards lower-cost EVs and robotaxis, with Tesla currently in the best position to meet these industry aims [18]