ARK Invest’s Director of Investment Analysis & Institutional Strategies, Tasha Keeney, has forecasted that Tesla may launch its Robotaxi Network by 2025 or 2026, with or without the use of its recently unveiled Cybercab. Keeney, alongside ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, attended Tesla’s “We, Robot” event on October 10, where they previewed the Cybercab, which is expected to play a key role in the company’s autonomous ride-hailing service.
Despite the introduction of the Cybercab, Keeney noted that Tesla’s existing fleet—equipped with Hardware 3 and 4—could enable the automaker to launch the Robotaxi Network through over-the-air software updates, bypassing the need to wait for the Cybercab’s full deployment. “Tesla already has a fleet of cars capable of full autonomy with updates, so the Cybercab isn’t necessary for the launch,” she explained.
ARK Invest also suggests that Tesla could initiate the network with human drivers. In 2020, the investment firm outlined how a ride-hailing service could boost Tesla’s profitability ahead of a fully autonomous rollout. “ARK believes that a ride-hail network will enhance Tesla’s profitability prior to the launch of a robotaxi service,” ARK stated, adding that launching the network with human drivers would not significantly divert engineering resources from developing full autonomy features.
Furthermore, ARK Invest emphasized the broader impact of such a service, highlighting Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s shift to sustainable energy. “A vertically integrated ride-hail service with highly utilized electric vehicles would increase the share of miles driven on electric platforms, advancing Tesla’s mission,” ARK concluded.
Source: Ark-invest
