Tesla(US:TSLA) The Motley Foolยท2025-06-24 00:30Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Initiative - Tesla has launched its first self-driving robotaxis for paying customers in Austin, Texas, marking a significant milestone for the company and its CEO Elon Musk [1] - The launch is seen as a step towards a fully autonomous robotaxi fleet, which many investors believe could create a substantial new business opportunity for Tesla [1] Group 2: Current Business Performance - Tesla's core business remains electric vehicles (EVs), with the company set to announce its second-quarter EV delivery figures in early July [2][3] - First-quarter deliveries were approximately 337,000, the lowest in over two years, raising concerns among investors about the impact of Musk's political ties on customer perception [3][5] Group 3: Sales Data and Competition - Sales data from Europe indicates a decline in Tesla's sales in April across several countries, including the UK, Netherlands, and France [5] - In China, Tesla is facing increased competition from BYD, which offers cheaper EVs and faster charging technology, potentially posing a greater challenge than political issues [6] Group 4: Analyst Expectations - Wall Street analysts project second-quarter deliveries to be around 400,000, representing a 10% year-over-year decline, although some analysts believe investors may overlook a potential miss [7][10] - Barclays analyst Dan Levy suggests that investor focus has shifted towards the robotaxi initiative rather than current delivery figures, while Wells Fargo analyst Colin Langan reports a 21% year-over-year decline in deliveries [8][9] Group 5: Investor Sentiment and Future Outlook - Despite negative headlines regarding EV deliveries, Tesla's stock has risen nearly 24% quarter-to-date as of June 20, indicating investor optimism about future initiatives [10] - If Tesla underperforms in EV deliveries, it may signal deeper issues within the core EV business, which could affect investor confidence in the company's future growth prospects [11][12]