Core Viewpoint - Tesla is set to begin offering public rides in driverless vehicles in Austin, Texas, on June 22, marking the launch of its long-anticipated robotaxi service, although this date may change due to safety concerns [1] Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Service - The initial launch of the robotaxi service may shift from the planned date due to Tesla's heightened focus on safety [1] - Tesla Model Y SUVs have been observed being tested in Austin without drivers, indicating progress towards the robotaxi service [1] - Musk previously claimed that Tesla would launch a robotaxi service in 2020 featuring one million driverless vehicles, which did not materialize [2] Group 2: Full Self-Driving (FSD) Software - Tesla has been refining its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which still requires driver supervision, and is currently under investigation for its involvement in crashes [3] - The new "unsupervised" version of FSD is being used in Austin, with Musk asserting that every new Tesla is capable of unsupervised driving [4] - The initial fleet for the robotaxi service will consist of around 10 vehicles, geofenced to the safest areas of Austin [4] Group 3: Comparison with Competitors - Tesla's current approach to deploying its robotaxi service resembles that of Waymo, which operates a commercial robotaxi business in several U.S. cities [5] Group 4: Hardware and Software Compatibility - Musk's assertion that all new Teslas can perform unsupervised driving contrasts with his 2016 promise that all vehicles had the necessary hardware for full autonomy [7] - Tesla has undergone multiple iterations of FSD hardware, and millions of cars may require upgrades to run the latest software, raising questions about the feasibility of such upgrades [7]

Tesla (TSLA 3.05%) stock is ending the week on a high note. Shares of the electric vehicle (EV) leader surged as much as 5% higher today as investors anticipate good things ahead. Ironically, some of the optimism came from a recent announcement from a competitor in self-driving technology.Tesla is on the verge of finally displaying its technology for fully autonomous driving vehicles. That's less than one month away, and has investors piling into the shares. As of 2:38 p.m. ET, the stock was trading near th ...

Core Viewpoint - Tesla's stock is considered risky but presents a potential reward, leading to a discussion on the risk/reward calculation for investors [1] Valuation and Growth Potential - Tesla's current valuation appears overvalued when assessed solely as a car company, particularly when compared to its enterprise value to EBITDA ratio against peers like Alphabet [2] - The investment appeal of Tesla is significantly tied to its ambitions in the robotaxi market, with projections estimating a future share value of $2,600, where only 9% is attributed to the car business and 88% to robotaxis [3] Growth Stock Classification - Tesla is categorized as a growth stock, with expectations of launching technology that could transform its earnings, particularly through robotaxis and its full-service driving solution [4] - While Tesla is recognized as a growth stock, its classification as a "value growth stock" is debated due to the speculative nature of its future earnings from robotaxis [5] Challenges in Robotaxi Development - The development of robotaxis faces challenges, including doubts about commercial scalability, regulatory hurdles, and Tesla's ability to deliver on its promises, especially given CEO Elon Musk's history of optimism regarding full-service driving [7] - Competitors like Ford and General Motors have scaled back their robotaxi plans, which may reduce competitive pressure on Tesla [8] Market Position and Competitive Advantage - Tesla is positioned as the leader in the electric vehicle market, which allows it to achieve economies of scale and lower costs, enabling the release of more affordable models over time [9] - The viability of robotaxi services has been demonstrated by Waymo, which has been operational since 2018, providing consumer acceptance and market validation [9] - Tesla's leadership in the EV market and its ability to gather extensive data from its vehicles may provide significant advantages over competitors like Waymo in the robotaxi space [11] Investment Perspective - Tesla is viewed as a speculative growth stock, but it is less speculative compared to many other growth stocks that struggle with financing and market recognition [12][13] - The company is entering an established and growing market with a potential cost advantage, making it a reasonable consideration for a diversified growth investor's portfolio [14]