<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0lKAiT_0w2GmLPL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lKAiT_0w2GmLPL00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios</figcaption></figure>Tesla is poised to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/02/tesla-robotaxi-event-preview-musk">debut its long-awaited robotaxi Thursday night</a> — and possibly an update on its humanoid robot — in a reveal that will require observers to separate sizzle from substance.Why it matters: Tesla CEO <a href="https://www.axios.com/business/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> has described self-driving car technology and AI robots as essential to the company's current stock valuation and its future.The big picture: The company is widely expected to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/23/tesla-earnings-elon-musk-robotaxi">debut the so-called Cybercab</a> at an event at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood.<ul><li>The name of the event — "We, Robot" — says a lot, but Tesla has said little about what it will actually reveal.</li></ul>The hype is already feverish — with even analysts who disagree on Tesla acknowledging the gravity of the moment.<ul><li>Bernstein analyst A.M. (Toni) Sacconaghi, Jr., a Tesla bear, said it may be "among the most anticipated corporate announcements ever."</li><li>Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, a Tesla bull, said there've been "very few industry events as widely anticipated as this."</li></ul>What to watch for: What has Tesla actually accomplished, versus what does it say it will accomplish — and is there a realistic pathway to getting there?<ul><li>The company is expected to give test rides to certain attendees. Will they venture into real-world traffic or stay on the studio lot? </li></ul>Crucially, what's the timeline? Given Tesla's track record for "overly optimistic" projections, "there is significant devil in the details," Sacconaghi wrote.<ul><li>Will the company give a glimpse of its humanoid robot, Optimus, which Musk has described as its most important long-term project?</li><li>What will the revenue model look like? Tesla may show off a ride-hailing app Musk has teased in the past.</li></ul>By the numbers: Ives believes AI and self-driving technology represent "$1 trillion of value alone for Tesla over the coming years."<ul><li>"We believe Robotaxi Day will be seminal and historical day for Musk and Tesla," Ives wrote.</li></ul>🤔 Reality check: Autonomous driving company <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/09/13/uber-waymo-self-driving-cars-atlanta">Waymo</a> is widely thought to be leading the pack on its way to coveted Level 5 autonomy — a vehicle where humans never have to intervene.<ul><li>And "even if Tesla is able to be first to L5, it is likely that fast followers can catch up with competitive offerings, mitigating opportunities for outsized</li></ul><ul><li>profits," according to Sacconaghi.</li></ul>The bottom line: There's a real risk that today's event could be promising yet still yield "a 'sell the news' reaction in its aftermath," CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson says.</div></body>

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Tesla robotaxi anticipation hits fever pitch ahead of debut

Tesla is poised to debut its long-awaited robotaxi Thursday night — and possibly an update on its humanoid robot — in a reveal that will require observers to separate sizzle from substance. Why it matters: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has described self-driving car technology and AI robots as...

Tesla robotaxi anticipation hits fever pitch ahead of debut

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