Tesla’s Robotaxi rollout sparks buzz — What it really means for shareholders

Tesla is once again making headlines as its long-anticipated Robotaxi vision inches closer to reality.

CEO Elon Musk has reiterated that the Tesla Robotaxi fleet could operate without safety drivers by 2026, framing the service as the company’s biggest production expansion that year.

While excitement is surging, for shareholders, the path is far more nuanced.

In the first phase of rollout, Tesla is emphasising extreme caution. Musk repeatedly stresses that safety is paramount, noting that even “one issue in 10,000 trips” could create major setbacks.

Yet Tesla’s own early Robotaxi data paints a complicated picture. The company has reported seven collisions across more than 250,000 miles, implying an incident roughly every 35,700 miles.

That compares unfavourably to Alphabet’s Waymo, which averages over 71,000 miles between incidents.

For investors, the question isn’t just whether the Robotaxi can work but whether it can scale profitably while meeting regulatory and safety expectations.

Analysts noted that Tesla’s long-term upside is significant if the Robotaxi fleet reaches maturity, but the near-term risks remain substantial.

Ultimately, the Tesla Robotaxi push is generating major buzz, but shareholders should brace for a long runway before these ambitions translate into meaningful returns.