How Tesla's Robotaxi Service Looks 3 Months After Launch

Core Insights - Tesla has successfully launched its robotaxi service, expanding from Austin to California, Nevada, and Arizona within three months, marking significant progress towards an autonomous future [1][3][9] - The company aims to reach half of the U.S. population with robotaxi access by the end of the year, betting on autonomous vehicles as a key growth driver [3][4] - Tesla's unique advantage lies in its strong brand and existing fleet equipped with self-driving hardware, allowing for scalable deployment once regulatory approvals are obtained [5] Expansion and Operations - The robotaxi service began in Austin, TX, on June 22, and has since expanded to California, where operations are structured to comply with local regulations requiring safety monitors to remain in the driver's seat [2][9] - Tesla has gained approval to test its robotaxi platform in Nevada and Arizona, securing testing rights in four states shortly after the public launch [3][9] Competitive Landscape - Waymo, backed by Alphabet, is a leading competitor in the robotaxi space, operating fully driverless Level 4 services in multiple cities and delivering around 250,000 paid rides weekly [6] - Amazon's Zoox has also entered the market, offering free robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, positioning itself as a challenger to Tesla and Waymo [7] Financial Performance - Tesla's stock has rallied approximately 80% over the past six months, with mixed earnings performance in the last four quarters, surpassing estimates twice and missing twice [8][10] - The Wall Street average target price for Tesla stock suggests a potential downside of 28.2% from current levels [11]