Latest news with #FSD
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1 Thing That Matters Most for Tesla Stock Investors
Tesla shares have boosted investors' portfolios in the past decade, as they seem to always trade at a steep valuation. The current P/E ratio implies monster success down the road with full self-driving technology and a robotaxi service. In recent years, Tesla has been a struggling car maker, which shows glimpses of the company's true nature. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › While it has taken investors on a bumpy drive, no one can deny that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has worked out to be a wildly successful stock. In the past 10 years, shares have rocketed 1,700% higher (as of July 10). The company's revenue growth has slowed, to be sure, but Tesla is now consistently profitable, which is a positive development. Even though the business might not be firing on all cylinders right now, the market continues to give Tesla the benefit of the doubt. Shares trade 35% off their peak from December last year, but they're very expensive, at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 170.4. It seems that Tesla is always at a nosebleed valuation regardless of what's going on with the underlying fundamentals. Existing shareholders, as well as those investors looking to buy the electric vehicle (EV) stock, need to understand what's going on. Here's what matters most as we look at Tesla's future. Anytime there's a valuation as high as Tesla's, it's a clear indication that the market believes the future will be incredibly bright. And that's exactly what founder and CEO Elon Musk has gotten shareholders to believe. In this case, the main thing to focus on is its full self-driving (FSD) technology, which is what Tesla's ultimate success and current valuation depend on. After many delays, Tesla finally introduced a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas in June. It was a very limited and controlled launch to a select number of people in a small area. The cars, which had supervisors in them, did make driving errors. However, the company deserves credit for getting to this point, even though it's significantly behind Alphabet's Waymo in the FSD and robotaxi race. The financial reward of one day bringing a robotaxi service to cities across the world is massive. So, it makes sense why Musk and Tesla are so focused on this top objective. According to Cathie Wood and Ark Invest, this is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity. To make Tesla's strategy a success, it involves not only selling more of its EVs but having these people offer up their cars to the robotaxi service. In this way, Tesla would be able to rapidly scale up its fleet, earning what could be very high-margin revenue if it can chip away at the leading market positions of Uber and Lyft, at least in the U.S. And if FSD can bring down the cost of travel, then perhaps demand would grow meaningfully, providing upside to the equation. Investors need to realize that it's far from a certainty that Tesla achieves broad robotaxi adoption. Up until this point, Musk has overpromised and underdelivered. There are obviously major regulatory hurdles to overcome, with safety being the leading concern. And riders must get comfortable sitting in a car that has no one behind the wheel (or no wheel at all). These are big question marks that no one has answers for at this point. Time will tell how things play out. This means that investors who are comfortable buying the stock today are implying that Tesla will find monster success with its FSD capabilities, enough so that the company's earnings power will be substantially higher five or 10 years from now. That's a bet I'll gladly skip out on. There remains a good possibility that Tesla's business model doesn't change. And in the future, this company could still be selling EVs. In that scenario, something the Tesla bulls would not be pleased with, Tesla would be deserving of a much lower P/E multiple. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $427,709!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $40,087!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $671,477!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of July 14, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Lyft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Thing That Matters Most for Tesla Stock Investors was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Mint
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Tesla's India debut: Worth the hype?
After years of speculation, Tesla — the world's second-largest EV maker and arguably its most talked-about brand — has finally arrived in India. Tesla India is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesla Inc, with its first showroom opening in Mumbai's BKC district. Here's everything you need to know. Despite much anticipation around the Model 3 (Tesla's most affordable car globally), Tesla has chosen to debut in India with the Model Y. Built on the same platform as the Model 3, the Model Y offers higher ground clearance and a more SUV-like stance, making it better suited for Indian roads. The Model 3, however, is expected to arrive later this year. In India, the standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Model Y starts at ₹ 61.07 lakh (on-road) and offers a range of 500 km, while the long-range variant, priced at ₹ 67.9 lakh, extends that to 622 km. Both come with a 15.4-inch touchscreen but differ in battery size — 60 kWh for the standard and 73 kWh for the long-range. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is its global USP, allowing functions far beyond the Level 2 ADAS systems currently seen in India. Although some top-end luxury car models offer Level 3 ADAS, fully autonomous driving in India remains both a pipe dream and a dangerous proposition. It's also the only thing. The Model Y can navigate complex urban environments, change lanes, and overtake autonomously — at least in theory. However, FSD remains a controversial promise. In India, these features are still awaiting regulatory approvals, and there's no confirmed timeline. For now, FSD is an optional extra costing ₹ 6 lakh and requires the driver to remain fully attentive and in control. Whether it can handle India's chaotic driving conditions remains to be seen. It must be noted that FSD or Full Self-Driving is a misnomer as it mandates that a driver be present and in control of the vehicle at all times. This is largely for regulatory reasons, as driverless capabilities are still not authorised in the US. However, the Full-Self Driving suite – the one that allows a Tesla to navigate past dense traffic, overtake and even change lanes at will, isn't authorised anywhere in Europe. European regulators, including the EU's UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), have strict homologation rules and safety standards for automated driving. Current legislation does not allow higher-level autonomy (Level 3 and beyond) on public roads without extensive testing and specific country-level approvals. Much like Europe, India's legal framework also hasn't been tweaked to accommodate liability disputes in the case of software error from the car. And the distinguishing factor of Level 3 ADAS is that the car is likely to be held accountable instead of the driver. In a country with the highest number of road fatalities, Tesla's FSD faces an uphill battle when it comes to regulatory approval, as the population density and generally chaotic driving conditions can overwhelm the system or put it in a state of action paralysis when faced with a slow-moving or immovable obstruction. India's narrow bylanes may prove to be particularly challenging. Tesla has faced many hits in recent times, prompting the otherwise unrelenting Elon Musk to yield to India's steep tariffs. However, its cars have been known to languish in development purgatory and the much-hyped, superlatively quick successor to the Roadster is just one such model. The other is the pared-down version of the Model Y, which is touted to be its cheapest model yet. Codenamed E41, the plan has already been pushed to next year, from earlier reports suggesting a launch in the third quarter of this year. It's expected to cost 20 per cent less than the existing Model Y, according to Reuters. Even the beleaguered Cybertruck, originally scheduled to enter production in 2021, faced significant delays all the way up to 2023, when only a few people received delivery. Even now, full-scale mass production of the Cybertruck is a no-go with limited production. Although Tesla India will not be a volume player, for Tesla to thrive locally, there must be a nationwide supercharger network. Although Tesla had promised global supercharger coverage, South America, Africa, India and parts of Asia do not have a single unit. Despite Musk's assurances last year, there are zero fully autonomous Teslas capable of operating as true robotaxis. Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" is still in beta and requires constant driver supervision. Teslas are superior in two regards: battery optimisation and autonomous driving. With the promise of the latter being a dubious one, it comes down to the range by battery size, which is fairly impressive on the Model Y, even the base version. The Model Y enters India as a completely built unit (CBU), enjoying a reduced import duty of 70 per cent. Despite Tesla's image struggles abroad, interest in India is sky-high. Starting at ₹ 61.07 lakh, the Model Y competes with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ( ₹ 45 lakh), which offers a similar battery capacity and fast-charging capabilities, and the Kia EV9 ( ₹ 65.9 lakh), which has a larger 84 kWh battery, more torque (605 Nm vs Tesla's 527 Nm), and nearly as much power. Tesla's biggest advantage lies in its massive cargo space — 822 litres plus a 116-litre frunk — unmatched by the Hyundai, Kia, or even the BMW iX1 ( ₹ 49 lakh). When it comes to brand appeal and advanced tech, Tesla still holds the edge. The fact remains that those who've been waiting for the Tesla want to own the badge and aren't likely to compare notes with other manufacturers. While it won't sell in volumes, expect Tesla fever to last for a couple of years before customers start taking a closer look. Because Tesla has also developed a reputation for panel gaps and shoddy, inconsistent build quality which its legacy rivals do not share. For now, Tesla must operate on novelty value alone.
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla India launches Model Y at ₹61.07 lakh; full self-driving feature to roll out soon
The long wait is over. Elon Musk-led Tesla has finally made its debut in India-- and that too with a bang. Amid much fanfare at its Mumbai's upscale Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Tesla' flagship Model Y has been launched with an on-road price of ₹61.07 lakh. Customers also have the option to upgrade to full self-driving (FSD) capability by paying an additional ₹6 lakh at the time of booking. The Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant is priced at ₹69 lakh. To book a Tesla Model Y , buyers must pay ₹22,220 initially, followed by a second installment of ₹3 lakh within seven days. Tesla, known globally for its advanced autonomous driving technology, aims to introduce FSD in the Indian market soon. 'The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers, as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience, as well as regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions,' the company stated on its website. Tesla also clarified that the current Model Y requires active driver supervision. Bringing an end to speculation about its India expansion post the Mumbai launch, Tesla has listed New Delhi and Gurugram as the other two showroom locations. How to Book a Tesla Model Y Elon Musk-led Tesla offers multiple payment options, including the ability to place an order via UPI QR, UPI collect, or credit/debit cards. Prices will vary slightly for bookings made in Delhi and Gurugram. Deliveries across all three cities are expected to begin in Q3 FY26, as per Tesla's website. Model Y Features Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: Offers a range of 500 km, a top speed of 201 km/h, and a 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.9 Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive: Delivers an extended range of 622 km, with the same top speed and a 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.6 seconds. Both variants are equipped with 19-inch Crossfire wheels and are available in six colours, including Stealth Grey, White, Black, and Red. The standard interior comes in black; opting for a white interior incurs an additional cost of ₹95,000.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Tesla faces its most serious court battle in years
Despite the issues Tesla (TSLA) faces, such as falling demand and slumping sales, the company is still marching forward with Robotaxi, its latest innovation. Tesla officially debuted its robotaxi concept at an event in October. The event featured a line of driverless Cybercab concept cars driving passengers, who had been drinking, across the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California. During the company's earnings call in January, CEO Elon Musk called out those who previously thought he was "crying wolf" about self-driving cars, saying "Teslas will be in the wild with no one in them, in June in Austin," Musk said during Tesla's Q4 2024 earnings call. "This is not some far-off mythical situation, it's five, six months away." Related: General Motors sued by US state over scary privacy invasion Elon was mostly correct. Tesla robotaxis did indeed hit the streets of Austin, Texas, in June, but Musk overpromised when he said that there would be "no one in them." Tesla robotaxis in Austin have a human "safety monitor" sitting in the front seat during autonomous drives. The "safety monitor" isn't an abnormal safety feature for an autonomous vehicle. Waymo tested its vehicles for six months with a driver and for six months without one in Austin before it launched its commercial service earlier this year, according to Electrek. However, it is an example of Musk and Tesla promising that the vehicle could do something it actually cannot while fully self-driving. Tesla is going to trial Monday, July 14, over an FSD-involved car crash in a case that could have huge implications for the company. On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida heard opening arguments in a lawsuit filed against Tesla by the family of Naibel Benavides, who was killed in 2019 by a runaway Tesla that had FSD engaged. The vehicle, driven by George Brian McGee, sped through a T intersection at 62 miles per hour and T-boned an empty parked car. Related: Unprecedented BYD assisted driving offer puts competition on notice The parked car's owners were standing outside the vehicle when they were struck. Benavides, 22, was killed in the crash, and her body was found flung about 75 feet from the crash site. Dillon Angulo, her boyfriend, survived the crash but was left with a severe concussion and multiple broken bones. He is also suing for compensation for medical expenses, along with the family's wrongful death, pain and suffering, and punitive damages claims. Like other cases involving FSD in the past, Tesla blames the crash on driver error. "The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology,'' Tesla said in a statement to Bloomberg. McGee reportedly dropped his cellphone and was searching for it on the ground when he crashed. "Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver. To his credit, he took responsibility for his actions because he was searching for his dropped cell phone while also pressing the accelerator, speeding, and overriding the car's system at the time of the crash. In 2019, when this occurred, no crash avoidance technology existed that could have prevented this tragic accident." Tesla says that data shows McGee had his foot on the accelerator during the crash and that the driver assistance system could not have overridden that. This isn't the first time Tesla has been sued for Full Self Driving crashes, and it won't be the last. Tesla has three upcoming trials over fatal FSD-related crashes in the next nine months in California. However, according to Bloomberg, only a handful of FSD crash cases have gone to trial. Tesla usually "resolves" these cases before they reach a courtroom. However, Tesla has won two previous jury trials in California, one for a fatal crash and one for a non-fatal crash. Both times, the collision was ruled to be driver error. The judge allowed this case to go to trial. "A reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit," Judge Beth Bloom wrote in an order issued on July 7. Related: Tesla makes surprising admission about its robotaxi The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
NBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- NBC News
Elon Musk looms over jury selection in Tesla Autopilot fatality trial
Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not in a Miami courtroom Monday, but his name loomed large as a jury was selected for the federal trial of a civil lawsuit over the 2019 crash of a Tesla Model S that killed a pedestrian and left another badly injured when the car was in Autopilot mode. 'Anything that involves Elon Musk is very hard for me,' one potential juror said. Another would-be juror said she could not be fair and impartial to Tesla because of the company's 'ethics, ownership and what I have seen in the news about its relation to the government.' The case is the first suit against Tesla related to fatal crashes involving the electric vehicle company's Autopilot system to go to trial. And it comes months after Musk's work as a top advisor to President Donald Trump made the billionaire a household name, synonymous with the massive federal workforce cuts undertaken by his brainchild, the Department of Government Efficiency. The richest man in the world's subsequent falling out with Trump over the president's federal tax reform and spending bill made headlines and injected fresh drama into typically staid congressional votes. A Tesla lawyer noted to the prospective jurors Monday, 'It's hard to hear the name Elon Musk and not have a view, positive or negative.' 'This case isn't about Musk. But he is connected to the company,' the attorney said, as they asked if jurors had views about Musk that they could not put aside. Three would-be jurors raised their hands to say that, yes, they did have opinions Musk that would make it impossible for them to approach the case impartially. 'It would be hard. I understand he isn't Tesla. But he is very tied to the Tesla brand,' one man said, adding that he was unsure if he could set aside his views. Two other jurors who had earlier voiced negative opinions of Musk reiterated those views to Tesla's lawyer. The attorney asked one juror about what that man wrote in response to a jury questionnaire about hearing things in the news related to Tesla. Two other jurors who previously spoke against Musk spoke again and shared the same opinions. 'This case is more about what happened rather than who it's for,' the man replied. 'I'm pretty independent,' he said. 'I can be impartial, it's about the accident and what happened.' Six women and three men were selected for the jury. The suit in U.S. District Court was filed against Tesla by the family of Naibel Benavides, the pedestrian who died from the crash and by her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured. The driver of the vehicle, George McGee, is not a defendant at the trial, and he reportedly settled with the plaintiffs earlier. The plaintiffs allege that Tesla's Autopilot feature was defective and unsafe. It is one of more than a dozen cases in which Tesla has been sued over fatal or injurious crashes where the company's Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (Supervised) modes had been in use by a driver. FSD is the premium version of Tesla's partially automated driving system. Autopilot is a standard option on all new Tesla vehicles. Tesla's website currently describes Autopilot as 'an advanced driver assistance system that enhances safety and convenience behind the wheel.' 'Additionally with Full Self-Driving (Supervised), you can drive your Tesla vehicle almost anywhere, making lane changes, select forks to follow your navigation route, navigate around other vehicles and objects and make left and right turns under your active supervision,' Tesla says. After the jury was selected, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said in an opening statement, 'Evidence will show for years before and after this crime, Tesla ignored warnings.' 'You will hear evidence about those motivations and why Tesla did what they did,' the attorney said. 'Was it the Silicon Valley ethos of moving fast and breaking things? That is going to be the determination.' 'What is not in dispute is that the driver that crashed was careless, distracted, on his phone and dropped it, then grabbed it,' the attorney said. 'He plowed into my client at approximately 60 miles an hour.' 'This is a case about shared responsibility. Tesla will take no responsibility for the failures of their Autopilot system. Evidence will show that every actor needs a stage and Tesla set the stage for the preventable actions that bring us here,' said the lawyer. Evidence will be introduced at trial that shows Musk made public statements about 'superhuman' sensors on Tesla vehicles, the attorney told the jury. At one conference, Musk said the car was 'safer than a human,' according to the lawyer. Tesla, in a statement provided to NBC News, said, 'The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology. Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver.' 'To his credit, he took responsibility for his actions because he was searching for his dropped cell phone while also pressing the accelerator, speeding and overriding the car's system at the time of the crash. In 2019 when this occurred, no crash avoidance technology existed that could have prevented this tragic accident,' the company said.
