Core Insights - Baidu has announced a partnership with Uber to launch its Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai, aiming to enhance consumer access to autonomous technology and align with Dubai's goal of 25% autonomous transportation by 2030 [2][6]. Group 1: Partnership and Expansion - The Apollo Go service has logged over 240 million autonomous kilometers globally, with more than 140 million kilometers completed in fully driverless mode, indicating Baidu's commitment to scaling its autonomous operations internationally [3]. - The integration of Apollo Go into the Uber platform is expected to launch in the coming month, leveraging Uber's extensive network [2]. Group 2: Market Position and Financial Performance - Baidu is the largest internet search engine in China, holding over 50% market share in 2024 [6]. - Baidu's stock has increased by 56.60% over the past 12 months and is currently trading 2.8% below its 20-day simple moving average but 11.7% above its 100-day simple moving average, indicating longer-term strength [4]. Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Financial Outlook - The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $144.18, with recent analyst targets ranging from $147.00 to $181.00 [9][10]. - Baidu's EPS estimate is $1.12, down from $2.63 year-over-year, while revenue is estimated at $4.68 billion, slightly up from $4.67 billion year-over-year [10]. Group 4: Valuation and Market Sentiment - Baidu's P/E ratio is 13.1x, indicating a value opportunity, while the strong consensus and rising estimates suggest positive growth prospects [10][11]. - The Benzinga Edge scorecard indicates strong momentum for Baidu's stock, outperforming the market, but highlights concerns regarding the company's overall financial health with a low quality score [12][13].

February 8, 2026 08:23 PM GMT WeRide Inc | Asia Pacific Strategic Robotaxi Expansion with Uber in Mideast and Beyond Key Takeaways WeRide/Uber expand robotaxi rollout: Following the launch of driverless robotaxi service last November, WeRide announced it would team up with Uber further to deploy 1.2k+ L4 robotaxis across three major Mideast cities by 2027, vs. about 200 now, and further extend the collaboration to extra 12 cities across Asia/Europe. An important business milestone to scale up and out: We se ...

Core Insights - Tesla's head of sales for North America, Raj Jegannathan, is leaving the company, marking a significant turnover in leadership within the organization [1][2] - This departure is part of a broader trend of executive exits at Tesla, coinciding with consecutive annual declines in vehicle deliveries [3] - The company is facing a slowdown in electric vehicle demand in the US and is shifting focus towards investments in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and humanoid robots [4] Executive Departures - Raj Jegannathan, who was responsible for sales and IT functions, is the latest in a series of high-profile exits, including longtime Musk confidant Omead Afshar and other key leaders [2][3] - The turnover in leadership positions has been notable, with several executives leaving in a short span, indicating potential instability within the company's management [3] Market Position - Tesla has lost its status as the world's largest seller of electric vehicles to BYD Co. from China, highlighting the competitive pressures in the EV market [4] - The company is navigating a challenging environment with declining vehicle deliveries, which may impact its market share and growth prospects [3][4]

Alphabet unit Waymo said on Monday it has gone fully autonomous in Nashville, Tennessee, ramping up operations as the robotaxi race heats up in the United States. ...

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [4] Core Insights - The company is the first in the industry to achieve full coverage of L2 to L4 level autonomous driving technology, with L3 level vehicles expected to be available for personal users by Q2 2026 [1] - The company plans to invest CNY 1.99 billion in upgrading its manufacturing capabilities at the Xiangjie Super Factory, with construction expected to start in March 2026 [2] - The company forecasts a narrowing of its net loss for 2025 to between CNY 4.35 billion and CNY 4.65 billion, with an expected sales volume of 209,600 units, representing an 84% year-on-year increase [3] - Revenue projections for 2025-2027 are CNY 278 billion, CNY 574 billion, and CNY 800 billion, with respective growth rates of 92%, 107%, and 39% [4] Summary by Sections Autonomous Driving Technology - The company has received approval for L3 level autonomous driving and has initiated pilot operations, with plans to expand to personal users by mid-2026 [1] - A strategic partnership with Pony.ai aims to develop and mass-produce L4 autonomous vehicles, targeting international markets [1] Manufacturing and Investment - The company announced a significant investment of CNY 1.99 billion for the digital and technological upgrade of its manufacturing lines at the Xiangjie Super Factory, set to enhance production efficiency and quality [2] Financial Performance - The company anticipates a reduction in net losses for 2025, with a projected sales increase of 84% year-on-year, indicating a positive trend despite ongoing strategic investments [3] - Revenue forecasts indicate substantial growth over the next three years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 77% expected [4]

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Waymo’s acceleration over the past 18 months is undeniable. The Alphabet-owned self-driving company now operates commercial robotaxi services in six markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. It has plans to grow its fleet of driverless taxicabs this year to more ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are focusing on Tesla's autonomous future, particularly its robotaxi expansion, despite current weak automotive revenue [1][3] Group 1: Robotaxi Expansion - Tesla is preparing to scale its robotaxi fleet in multiple cities this year, which could lead to a rise in stock prices [1][4] - The Cybercab, designed without a steering wheel or pedals, is set to enter production this year, indicating rapid scaling of the robotaxi service [4] - Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service in seven new cities in the first half of 2026, including Las Vegas and Miami [7] Group 2: Data and Demand - Tesla car owners are generating the equivalent of 500 years' worth of driving data daily, enhancing the full-self-driving (FSD) system [3] - The number of Tesla owners using FSD increased by 38% year over year in Q4, surpassing 1.1 million users [3] Group 3: Regulatory Hurdles - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently limits annual sales of vehicles without steering wheels to 2,500 units, which could hinder Tesla's Cybercab production plans [5] - The NHTSA is considering modernizing these rules due to advancements in driverless technology, but until the cap is lifted, it may delay expansion [5] Group 4: Financial Outlook - Analysts project Tesla's earnings to grow at a 35% annualized rate over the next few years as higher margins from robotaxis begin to materialize [8]

Core Viewpoint - The company's $20 billion investment in 2026 signifies a shift in the investment narrative, moving away from traditional car company valuations to a broader vision of transportation as a service [1][2]. Investment Strategy - Tesla is committing $20 billion to build six new factories, which supports CEO Elon Musk's vision for the future of electric vehicles (EVs) and transportation [3][4]. - The investment includes a lithium refinery and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery factory, aimed at producing cost-effective batteries for future models like the Cybercab [4]. Market Position and Valuation - Tesla's current market cap stands at $1.4 trillion, with a trading valuation exceeding 200 times Wall Street's earnings estimates for 2026 [4]. - The company is transitioning from being viewed solely as a car manufacturer to being perceived as a transportation-as-a-service provider, with a focus on autonomous driving [4]. Risks and Challenges - The company faces significant cash burn due to the $20 billion investment, with estimates suggesting a $6.2 billion cash outflow for 2026 [7]. - Regulatory approvals for unsupervised robotaxis and the Cybercab are still pending, which adds uncertainty to Tesla's future plans [6][10]. Future Outlook - Tesla's CFO stated that the company has $44 billion in cash and investments to support its spending, but there are risks associated with premature investments in projects like Cybercab and Optimus [8]. - The stock may appeal to investors who believe in Musk's vision for the future of transportation, despite the high-risk nature of the investment [11].

Core Viewpoint - The global semiconductor sales are projected to reach a record high of $791.7 billion in 2025, representing a 25.6% increase from $630.5 billion in 2024, driven by strong demand from emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and 6G [2][5]. Group 1: Sales Projections - In 2025, the semiconductor sales are expected to be $791.7 billion, with Q4 sales reaching $236.6 billion, a 37.1% increase from Q4 2024 and a 13.6% increase from Q3 2025 [2]. - The monthly sales data indicates that December 2025 sales will be $78.9 billion, a 2.7% increase from November 2025 [2]. Group 2: Regional Performance - Sales growth is observed across various regions: Asia-Pacific and others (45.0%), Americas (30.5%), China (17.3%), and Europe (6.3%), while Japan's sales decreased by 4.7% [5]. - In December, sales increased in the Americas (3.9%), China (3.8%), and Asia-Pacific (2.5%), but decreased in Europe (-2.2%) and Japan (-2.5%) [5]. Group 3: Product Segmentation - Logic products are projected to see a sales increase of 39.9%, reaching $301.9 billion, making it the largest product category by sales in 2025 [6]. - Memory products are expected to grow by 34.8% in 2024, reaching $223.1 billion, ranking second in sales [6].

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is viewed as a battleground stock, but optimism is growing regarding its robotaxi fleet, with 2026 being highlighted as a potentially significant year for the company [1]. Group 1: Robotaxi Revenue Projections - Wolfe Research analyst Emmanuel Rosner projects robotaxi revenue could reach $250 billion by 2035, assuming 30% penetration of autonomous vehicles and Tesla capturing 50% market share [2]. - This revenue projection supports an estimated equity value of $2.75 trillion, which translates to approximately $900 billion when discounted to present value, equating to $250 per share for the robotaxi unit [2]. Group 2: Near-Term Challenges - Rosner anticipates high costs associated with building the robotaxi fleet and Optimus humanoid robots, which may negatively impact Tesla's earnings in the short term [3]. - The company is expected to incur losses of $500 million from the robotaxi business as it scales its fleet from around 250 vehicles to 7,200 [4]. Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - Tesla currently holds a market capitalization of $1.25 trillion, despite challenges in its core electric vehicle business and the expiration of U.S. incentives like the $7,500 federal tax credit [5]. - The stock trades at approximately 192 times forward earnings, indicating that the market has already priced in a level of success from the robotaxi initiative and potentially from Optimus [6]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape and Risks - Tesla's stock is assigned a premium due to CEO Elon Musk's strong following and the anticipated growth of the autonomous driving sector, with the company benefiting from a first-mover advantage [6]. - Potential risks include competition, challenges in scaling the robotaxi fleet, achieving fully unsupervised self-driving, and regulatory hurdles [7].