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]

For electric vehicles (EVs) to truly go mainstream, they need to be more affordable. Automakers are working to cut costs and Chinese EV giant BYD Co Ltd (BYDDY) is already racing ahead. With a vertically integrated business model and full control of its supply chain, BYD is selling cars at a much cheaper sticker price.Its cheapest model, the BYD Seagull, just got a price cut. The 2025 Seagull now starts at only 56,800 yuan (around $7,800), down from its earlier price of 69,800 yuan ($9,500). The promotion a ...