Core Insights - Tesla is planning to expand its robotaxi service to the San Francisco Bay Area within the next month or two, pending regulatory approval [1][10] - The company has begun a limited trial of the service in Austin, TX, deploying around a dozen vehicles under strict conditions [1] - The rollout of the robotaxi service is critical for Tesla's long-term strategy amid waning demand for its aging EV models and increasing competition [3] Expansion Plans - Tesla will widen its robotaxi service in Austin this coming weekend, although specific details about the expansion's scope or location were not disclosed [2] - The expansion in California will be more complex due to the need for multiple permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) [4][10] Regulatory Challenges - The CPUC granted Tesla initial approval in March, but further authorizations are still required for commercial operation [5] - Early public tests in Austin reportedly encountered several traffic-related issues, highlighting challenges as the service scales beyond Texas [10] Competitive Landscape - Alphabet's Waymo is currently the only company running driverless robotaxis charging fees from passengers, with a fleet exceeding 1,500 vehicles and facilitating over 250,000 rides weekly [6] - Amazon's Zoox has opened its first dedicated robotaxi manufacturing facility in California, aiming to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis per year [7] Financial Performance - Tesla has underperformed the Zacks Automotive-Domestic industry year to date, with TSLA shares losing 26.7% compared to the industry's decline of 23.1% [8] - Tesla appears overvalued with a forward sales multiple of 9.2, significantly higher than its industry's 2.52 [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 EPS has decreased by 3 cents and 5 cents, respectively, in the past week [12]