Tesla Authorized for 42 Autonomous Vehicles in Texas
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 18 hours ago
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Fleet Size Disparity: Tesla has received authorization for 42 autonomous vehicles in Texas, which is less than one-tenth of Waymo's 577 vehicles in the state, highlighting Tesla's competitive disadvantage in the autonomous driving market.
- Regulatory Impact: A new Texas law grants greater regulatory power to commercial driverless vehicle operators, requiring companies like Tesla to self-certify their vehicles as level 4 autonomous, a standard that typically means operation in normal weather and on typical roads without a human driver.
- Safety Incident Records: Between July 2025 and April 2026, Tesla's Austin fleet experienced 17 known incidents, including two minor injuries and one hospitalization, indicating safety challenges as the company promotes its driverless technology.
- Competitive Pressure: Tesla's driverless taxi service in Texas faces pressure from competitors like Waymo and AV Ride, which have 577 and 317 authorized vehicles respectively, necessitating rapid technological advancements for Tesla to maintain its market share.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy TSLA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on TSLA
Wall Street analysts forecast TSLA stock price to fall
30 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
11 Hold
7 Sell
Hold
Current: 442.100
Low
25.28
Averages
401.93
High
600.00
Current: 442.100
Low
25.28
Averages
401.93
High
600.00
About TSLA
Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, sells and leases high-performance fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems, and offers services related to its products. Its segments include automotive, and energy generation and storage. The automotive segment includes the design, development, manufacturing, sales and leasing of high-performance fully electric vehicles, and sales of automotive regulatory credits. It also includes sales of used vehicles, non-warranty maintenance services and collisions, part sales, paid supercharging, insurance services revenue and retail merchandise sales. The energy generation and storage segment include the design, manufacture, installation, sales and leasing of solar energy generation and energy storage products and related services and sales of solar energy systems incentives. Its consumer vehicles include the Model 3, Y, S, X and Cybertruck. Its lithium-ion battery energy storage products include Powerwall and Megapack.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of SpaceX IPO Prospects and Investment Recommendations
- Profit Growth Highlight: Starlink, as the only profitable division of SpaceX, generated $11.4 billion in revenue in 2025, accounting for 61% of total company revenue, reflecting strong demand and profitability in the global high-speed internet market with a 50% year-over-year increase.
- Market Potential Assessment: SpaceX estimates that of its $28.5 trillion total addressable market, only $1.6 trillion pertains to connectivity, while the AI market represents a substantial $26.5 trillion, indicating that the primary growth driver for the company lies in the AI sector.
- Investment Risk Warning: Despite the potential IPO valuation of $1.5 trillion, SpaceX's core business remains focused on internet access, and current losses exceed profits, prompting investors to carefully evaluate the associated risks and returns.
- Strategic Recommendation: Given SpaceX's high valuation and insufficient profitability, it is advisable for investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach post-IPO, seeking a more attractive entry point to mitigate investment risks.
See More
Tesla's Robotaxi Fleet in Texas Lags Behind Waymo's Dominance
- Market Size Comparison: Data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles reveals that Tesla (TSLA) has only 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, significantly trailing Waymo's (WAYMO) 577 vehicles, highlighting Tesla's competitive disadvantage in this market.
- Competitor Analysis: Tesla (TSLA) not only lags behind Waymo but also falls short of Nebius (NBIS)-owned Avride's 317 and Nuro's 47 authorized robotaxis, indicating a further compression of its market share.
- Regulatory Environment Changes: With the new law in Texas tightening oversight on commercial self-driving vehicles, Tesla's (TSLA) robotaxi service, available in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, and Houston, faces increased compliance pressures that could impact future expansion plans.
- Operational Timing Differences: Waymo (WAYMO) commenced its robotaxi operations in Texas last March through a partnership with Uber (UBER), while Tesla (TSLA) only began its service in June 2025, creating a timing gap that places it at a disadvantage in market competition.
See More
Meta Platforms: AI Investments Present New Opportunities
- Earnings Growth Potential: Meta Platforms has attracted over 3.5 billion users through its social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, leading to significant earnings growth driven by advertising revenue, which is expected to further enhance shareholder returns.
- AI Strategic Investment: Meta's substantial investments in AI, including building data centers and developing large language models, have been successfully integrated into its social media and advertising processes, likely improving ad effectiveness and increasing revenue while strengthening market competitiveness.
- New Revenue Streams: Meta has announced the rollout of consumer subscription plans that allow users to access special features, while also testing AI subscription services for businesses, which will provide a robust new revenue stream and cater to diverse user needs for future growth.
- Valuation Attractiveness: With a price-to-earnings ratio of 19, Meta is currently the cheapest among the Magnificent Seven, reflecting market caution regarding the monetization of its AI investments; however, as AI products are gradually launched, this could represent a key turning point for the stock.
See More
Meta Platforms: A Key Turning Point in AI Investment
- AI Investment Returns: Meta Platforms has heavily invested in AI over the past few years, and while it hasn't yet monetized these investments, the gradual application of AI tools in social media and advertising is expected to drive advertising revenue growth, thereby enhancing overall profitability.
- Large User Base: With over 3.5 billion daily users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta's advertising revenue growth is closely tied to user engagement, providing a stable income source and long-term growth potential for the company.
- New Revenue Streams: Meta has announced the rollout of consumer subscription plans that allow users to access special features while testing AI subscription plans for businesses, which will open new revenue channels and further strengthen its market competitiveness.
- Attractive Valuation: Trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19, Meta is the cheapest among the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, and despite the challenges of a longer return cycle on AI investments, its potential for growth makes it a focal point for investors.
See More
Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire by 2027
- Trillionaire Odds Surge: Traders are now estimating over a 90% chance that Musk will become the world's first trillionaire before 2027, reflecting his significant net worth increases to over $500 billion in October and $700 billion in December, indicating strong market confidence in his wealth trajectory.
- Bright SpaceX IPO Outlook: Musk denied reports of a lowered SpaceX valuation, reaffirming that the upcoming IPO is set to be a historic success, expected to outperform other IPO deals and further solidify its leadership in the aerospace sector.
- Tesla-SpaceX Merger Anticipation: Analysts predict a potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX by next year, a strategic move that could enable Musk to better control the AI ecosystem and enhance synergies between the two companies in the tech space.
- Market Confidence Boost: With SpaceX having confidentially filed with the SEC in April and planning to debut on Nasdaq next month, market sentiment towards Musk's future developments is optimistic, reinforcing the belief that he will become the world's first trillionaire.
See More
Estonia Approves Tesla's FSD System for Roads
- Regulatory Approval: Estonia's transport authority announced on Friday that it has cleared Tesla's FSD driver-assistance system for use on its roads, marking a significant step in the system's rollout across European markets.
- Type Approval Recognition: This approval is based on a type approval initially granted in the Netherlands, demonstrating Tesla's compliance and adaptability across various European nations, thereby enhancing its market position in the autonomous driving sector.
- Market Impact: With the approval of the FSD system, Tesla is poised to expand its market share in Estonia and surrounding regions, further promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and the application of smart driving technologies.
- Strategic Significance: This approval not only enhances Tesla's brand image in Europe but may also encourage other countries to consider similar technology approvals, thereby accelerating the development of global electric vehicle and autonomous driving technologies.
See More
Analysis of SpaceX IPO Prospects and Investment Recommendations
- Profit Growth Highlight: Starlink, as the only profitable division of SpaceX, generated $11.4 billion in revenue in 2025, accounting for 61% of total company revenue, reflecting strong demand and profitability in the global high-speed internet market with a 50% year-over-year increase.
- Market Potential Assessment: SpaceX estimates that of its $28.5 trillion total addressable market, only $1.6 trillion pertains to connectivity, while the AI market represents a substantial $26.5 trillion, indicating that the primary growth driver for the company lies in the AI sector.
- Investment Risk Warning: Despite the potential IPO valuation of $1.5 trillion, SpaceX's core business remains focused on internet access, and current losses exceed profits, prompting investors to carefully evaluate the associated risks and returns.
- Strategic Recommendation: Given SpaceX's high valuation and insufficient profitability, it is advisable for investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach post-IPO, seeking a more attractive entry point to mitigate investment risks.
See More
Tesla's Robotaxi Fleet in Texas Lags Behind Waymo's Dominance
- Market Size Comparison: Data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles reveals that Tesla (TSLA) has only 42 authorized robotaxis in Texas, significantly trailing Waymo's (WAYMO) 577 vehicles, highlighting Tesla's competitive disadvantage in this market.
- Competitor Analysis: Tesla (TSLA) not only lags behind Waymo but also falls short of Nebius (NBIS)-owned Avride's 317 and Nuro's 47 authorized robotaxis, indicating a further compression of its market share.
- Regulatory Environment Changes: With the new law in Texas tightening oversight on commercial self-driving vehicles, Tesla's (TSLA) robotaxi service, available in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, and Houston, faces increased compliance pressures that could impact future expansion plans.
- Operational Timing Differences: Waymo (WAYMO) commenced its robotaxi operations in Texas last March through a partnership with Uber (UBER), while Tesla (TSLA) only began its service in June 2025, creating a timing gap that places it at a disadvantage in market competition.
See More
Meta Platforms: AI Investments Present New Opportunities
- Earnings Growth Potential: Meta Platforms has attracted over 3.5 billion users through its social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, leading to significant earnings growth driven by advertising revenue, which is expected to further enhance shareholder returns.
- AI Strategic Investment: Meta's substantial investments in AI, including building data centers and developing large language models, have been successfully integrated into its social media and advertising processes, likely improving ad effectiveness and increasing revenue while strengthening market competitiveness.
- New Revenue Streams: Meta has announced the rollout of consumer subscription plans that allow users to access special features, while also testing AI subscription services for businesses, which will provide a robust new revenue stream and cater to diverse user needs for future growth.
- Valuation Attractiveness: With a price-to-earnings ratio of 19, Meta is currently the cheapest among the Magnificent Seven, reflecting market caution regarding the monetization of its AI investments; however, as AI products are gradually launched, this could represent a key turning point for the stock.
See More
Meta Platforms: A Key Turning Point in AI Investment
- AI Investment Returns: Meta Platforms has heavily invested in AI over the past few years, and while it hasn't yet monetized these investments, the gradual application of AI tools in social media and advertising is expected to drive advertising revenue growth, thereby enhancing overall profitability.
- Large User Base: With over 3.5 billion daily users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta's advertising revenue growth is closely tied to user engagement, providing a stable income source and long-term growth potential for the company.
- New Revenue Streams: Meta has announced the rollout of consumer subscription plans that allow users to access special features while testing AI subscription plans for businesses, which will open new revenue channels and further strengthen its market competitiveness.
- Attractive Valuation: Trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19, Meta is the cheapest among the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, and despite the challenges of a longer return cycle on AI investments, its potential for growth makes it a focal point for investors.
See More
Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire by 2027
- Trillionaire Odds Surge: Traders are now estimating over a 90% chance that Musk will become the world's first trillionaire before 2027, reflecting his significant net worth increases to over $500 billion in October and $700 billion in December, indicating strong market confidence in his wealth trajectory.
- Bright SpaceX IPO Outlook: Musk denied reports of a lowered SpaceX valuation, reaffirming that the upcoming IPO is set to be a historic success, expected to outperform other IPO deals and further solidify its leadership in the aerospace sector.
- Tesla-SpaceX Merger Anticipation: Analysts predict a potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX by next year, a strategic move that could enable Musk to better control the AI ecosystem and enhance synergies between the two companies in the tech space.
- Market Confidence Boost: With SpaceX having confidentially filed with the SEC in April and planning to debut on Nasdaq next month, market sentiment towards Musk's future developments is optimistic, reinforcing the belief that he will become the world's first trillionaire.
See More
Estonia Approves Tesla's FSD System for Roads
- Regulatory Approval: Estonia's transport authority announced on Friday that it has cleared Tesla's FSD driver-assistance system for use on its roads, marking a significant step in the system's rollout across European markets.
- Type Approval Recognition: This approval is based on a type approval initially granted in the Netherlands, demonstrating Tesla's compliance and adaptability across various European nations, thereby enhancing its market position in the autonomous driving sector.
- Market Impact: With the approval of the FSD system, Tesla is poised to expand its market share in Estonia and surrounding regions, further promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and the application of smart driving technologies.
- Strategic Significance: This approval not only enhances Tesla's brand image in Europe but may also encourage other countries to consider similar technology approvals, thereby accelerating the development of global electric vehicle and autonomous driving technologies.
See More
