Key Points
Tesla has initiated robotaxi drives in Austin without a safety monitor, marking a significant advancement in its autonomous ride-sharing program, which originally launched with safety riders last summer. CEO Elon Musk revealed this update, contributing to a 4% increase in Tesla’s stock price on Thursday. This pilot program follows Tesla’s recent expansion of its robotaxi service in Austin and a new launch in the Bay Area.
Despite these advancements, Tesla’s vehicle deliveries dropped by 9% in 2025, down to over 1.6 million from nearly 1.8 million in 2024. Moreover, fourth-quarter deliveries saw a sharp decline of approximately 16% from the previous year, with 418,227 vehicles delivered compared to 495,570 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Tesla’s third-quarter net income also fell 37% year-over-year to about $1.4 billion, raising concerns about its business performance and increasing pressure on its high valuation based on anticipated success in robotaxi operations.
