Investment Analyst Dario Giordano: AI Drives the Future as Tesla Advances Toward a $100 Billion Robotaxi Blueprint
Tesla recently launched its Robotaxi pilot program in Austin, USA, marking its official transformation from a traditional electric vehicle manufacturer to an AI-driven mobility platform. Although the commercialization of autonomous driving remains in its early stages, this strategic move has already attracted widespread attention within capital markets and the technology industry. Investment Analyst Dario Giordano notes that this deployment not only represents a milestone technological breakthrough but also signals a profound shift in the company strategic focus. In the context of slowing sales growth and valuation pressure in 2025, the Robotaxi project is seen as a key driver for pushing the market capitalization of Tesla beyond the trillion-dollar mark.
Robotaxi Initiates the Second Phase of Tesla AI Strategy, Driving Valuation Model Reconstruction
Investment Analyst Dario Giordano believes that the current push by Tesla for the Robotaxi program is a core manifestation of its AI strategy entering the second phase. This is not merely the launch of a new service, but an attempt to reshape the fundamental market perception of the Tesla business model. By repositioning itself from an automotive manufacturer to an AI platform company, Tesla is striving to align with the high-valuation models of cloud computing or data platform enterprises.
The ten Model Y Robotaxis deployed in Austin are equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. Although still in the technology validation stage, they are already capable of city-level operations. Unlike competing solutions that rely on lidar, Tesla has chosen a pure vision approach based on cameras, aiming to reduce sensor costs and facilitate large-scale deployment.
Investment Analyst Dario Giordano emphasizes that investors should closely monitor the short-term expansion of the Robotaxi service. Tesla plans to roll out the service to at least 25 cities within the next year. Should this target be achieved, it would prompt the market to reassess the Tesla revenue and growth potential. Furthermore, the advancement of the AI strategy will help diversify the Tesla reliance on traditional electric vehicle sales.
Rising Capital Enthusiasm, but Technical and Regulatory Challenges Remain
While the Robotaxi project enhances the Tesla growth prospects, Investment Analyst Dario Giordano cautions that investors should not view this development as a straightforward positive, but rather should comprehensively assess the potential uncertainties and practical challenges of implementation.
On the policy front, Texas offers relatively relaxed regulatory support. However, in markets with stricter regulations and higher public safety concerns, such as California and New York, the promotion of Robotaxi faces obstacles including complex approval procedures and low public acceptance, which may limit the pace of expansion.
From a technological perspective, although Tesla holds a first-mover advantage in vision systems, it still lags behind competitors such as Waymo and Zoox in dedicated hardware, safety redundancy systems, and remote operation capabilities. Additionally, the company has experienced several high-profile departures in key areas such as autonomous driving, robotics, and energy over the past two years, raising concerns about team stability. Investment Analyst Dario Giordano points out that while Elon Musk possesses strong strategic capabilities, the commercialization of autonomous driving remains highly dependent on the execution and continuity of the middle management team.
The profitability path is also yet to be clarified. Although the Robotaxi pilot is priced at $4.20 per ride, its long-term commercial sustainability remains to be validated. If the future involves price subsidies or substantial capital investment, the company may face temporary profitability pressures. Therefore, when allocating assets, investors should carefully consider short-term volatility and medium-term risks.
Valuation Logic Awaits Reassessment, AI Platform Potential Expected to Unlock Long-term Value
Although the current market capitalization of Tesla approaches $1 trillion, its share price has experienced significant volatility since 2025, mainly due to declining global sales, intensified market competition, and geopolitical factors. Investment Analyst Dario Giordano notes that in this context, AI projects such as Robotaxi and Optimus have become critical avenues for the market to redefine the Tesla growth trajectory. Once these business models achieve technological maturity and commercial validation, they could drive the Tesla market capitalization into a new phase of expansion.
Elon Musk has publicly stated plans to mass-produce the "Cybercab" model in 2026, underscoring his firm commitment to advancing the AI-as-a-service strategy. Should Robotaxi achieve profitability and synergize with the energy management system and Optimus humanoid robot, Tesla will evolve from a product-based company to a platform-based enterprise, with its valuation model shifting from traditional price-to-earnings ratios to frameworks based on user lifecycle and data asset value.
Investment Analyst Dario Giordano believes that although autonomous driving is still in the early stages of industry development, Robotaxi has significant future cash flow discounting potential from the perspective of technological iteration and platform effects. The current valuation may only reflect the starting point of its platform value. Once Robotaxi achieves critical user penetration in core cities, the data training feedback mechanism will further strengthen its technological edge, ultimately resulting in a sustainable, high-margin service revenue structure.