All articles tagged with #autonomous driving
Top investor Daniel Sparks questions Tesla’s long‑term bull case, citing high capex near $9B and the potential for a costly, commoditized robotaxi market with tight margins; despite Q4 delivery declines, TSLA trades above $440 and analysts yield a cautious view (mostly Hold) with downside risk to targets.
Mercedes-Benz announced it will launch a new advanced driver-assistance system called MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO in the US, enabling autonomous driving on city streets under driver supervision, competing with Tesla's Full Self-Driving system. The system, already available in China, will cost $3,950 for three years in the US and uses multiple sensors and AI processing to navigate urban environments, marking a step toward broader autonomous vehicle deployment.
Tesla's stock rose about 1% despite a forecast for lower fourth-quarter vehicle deliveries, with analysts predicting around 422,850 deliveries, which is 15% less than the previous year and below earlier expectations. The company is heading toward a second consecutive year of declining deliveries, but investors remain optimistic about long-term projects like autonomous driving and robotaxi services. Despite the delivery outlook, Tesla's stock has gained over 21% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500.
Tesla is aiming for a $3 trillion valuation by 2026, driven by advancements in AI, autonomous vehicles, and robotics, with key milestones including the deployment of robotaxis in 30 cities and the development of the Optimus humanoid robot. Despite recent stock volatility, analyst Dan Ives emphasizes that 2026 will be a pivotal year for Tesla's transformation from an EV manufacturer to an AI and robotics powerhouse, though execution risks remain.
Rivian announced significant advancements in autonomous vehicle technology during its first 'Autonomy and AI Day,' including the development of custom silicon for its next-generation autonomy platform, plans to integrate lidar sensors into future R2 models, and the introduction of the Large Driving Model (LDM) aimed at achieving full autonomous driving and entering the robotaxi market. The company also unveiled a new AI voice tool, Rivian Assistant, set to debut in early 2026.
Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle service to include freeway trips across the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with plans to extend to other cities, emphasizing safety and reliability as it offers more convenient and efficient transportation options for riders.
Lucid Motors reported strong Q3 2025 financial results with a 68% increase in revenue to $336.6 million, vehicle production up 116%, and a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to develop Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The company also increased its liquidity to approximately $5.5 billion following a credit facility expansion, and made organizational changes to accelerate growth and global expansion.
Tesla has replaced the traditional Autopilot icon with the text 'Self-Driving' in FSD V14, citing the icon's outdatedness, and may reintroduce a new symbol in future updates. The update also includes significant UI and feature enhancements across Tesla vehicles, such as 3D maps, improved Dashcam features, and expanded AI assistant capabilities.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe discusses the company's focus on broadening its vehicle lineup beyond trucks, the upcoming R2 model at a starting price of $45,000, and their conviction in skipping CarPlay in favor of a seamless, integrated digital experience. He emphasizes Rivian's software and hardware innovations, their strategic sourcing and manufacturing in the US, and their advancements in autonomous driving technology, including AI-driven self-driving features expected by 2027. Despite industry challenges like tariffs and supply chain issues, Rivian remains confident in its growth and brand appeal.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Tesla alleging that the company and its officers made false and misleading statements about the safety and efficacy of its autonomous driving technology and Robotaxi service, omitting critical risks that led to investor losses, especially after reports of traffic law violations by Tesla's self-driving taxis and regulatory scrutiny emerged in June 2025.
Nvidia reported a 69% increase in automotive revenue driven by self-driving solutions and announced the shipment of its Thor SoC, signaling a shift towards higher levels of vehicle autonomy. Tesla, which has shifted from its in-house Dojo supercomputer to Nvidia and AMD chips for autonomous systems, saw its stock rise slightly and remains focused on advancing its self-driving hardware with upcoming AI5 and AI6 chips. Nvidia's strong earnings and new product launches highlight its key role in the evolving autonomous vehicle market, with Tesla continuing to rely on Nvidia for its self-driving technology.
Tesla has terminated its Dojo supercomputer project due to delays and departures, shifting focus to AI5 and AI6 chips developed in collaboration with Samsung, aiming to enhance autonomous driving and robotics technologies.
Despite facing significant challenges such as declining sales, increased competition, and regulatory issues, Tesla remains valued at nearly $1 trillion, largely due to investor optimism about its future in autonomous driving, robotics, and AI, driven by its large installed base, technological advancements, and Elon Musk's leadership.
Tesla's robotaxi launch in Austin has shown mostly smooth rides but also revealed issues like speeding, wrong lane driving, and phantom braking, raising concerns among experts about the limitations of a camera-only approach and the need for more comprehensive sensor data and training before scaling up.
Tesla's global car sales declined in Q2 as the company shifted focus towards developing autonomous driving technology and driverless taxis, with production operating below capacity and facing increased competition, while Elon Musk emphasizes the future of autonomous vehicles over new models.