Investors are increasingly considering Tesla as a conglomerate comprising artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a robotaxi platform, manufacturer of humanoid robots, and chips, with the focus shifting away from electric vehicle sales. According to Cantor analyst Andres Sheppard, Tesla is set to begin delivering the humanoid robot Optimus in the third quarter of 2027. Sheppard expects the initial deliveries of Optimus to target commercial applications before becoming available to individual consumers. He mentioned that production of the Optimus Gen 3 is set to ramp up in California in July or August, with another plant in Texas under construction and expected to commence regular operations by next summer.
Sheppard predicts that Tesla will produce 2,500 Optimus units in 2027, 6,000 in 2028, and 18,000 in 2029. The California plant is projected to have an annual production capacity of one million Optimus robots, while the Texas facility is anticipated to handle 10 million robots. This development may accelerate the commercialization of humanoid robots in the United States, with domestic production expected to rise significantly in the next twelve months. Sheppard maintains an “Overweight” rating on Tesla with a price target of $510.
Currently, the market is highly focused on artificial intelligence and chips, viewing Tesla more as an “AI-Play” rather than an electric vehicle manufacturer. This perspective is reinforced by Elon Musk’s latest initiative to establish a chip production facility. Tesla and SpaceX are collaborating to build two cutting-edge chip factories in Austin, Texas, to manufacture chips for Tesla’s electric vehicles and humanoid robot Optimus.
Elon Musk believes that global chip production will fall short of meeting the needs of his companies in the future. Strategically, this move makes sense as Tesla would require specialized chips for robotaxis, Optimus, and its AI data centers. However, operationally, it poses significant risks as Tesla transitions further from an automaker to an integrated AI-industrial conglomerate. While Tesla remains strong in the electric vehicle market, its growth trajectory is slowing, and the product mix heavily favors the Model 3/Y.
The narrative surrounding Tesla is shifting towards AI, robotaxis, and Optimus, demonstrating grand ambitions although Tesla lags behind Waymo in the robotaxi realm with Optimus yet to prove its scalability. Players like Neura Robotics, Xpeng, and Boston Dynamics are also strong contenders in this field. The recent surge in chip stocks has put the focus back on the AI sector, with Tesla’s technical outlook brightening.
It is vital to note that the chairman and majority owner of the publishing firm Börsenmedien AG, Mr. Bernd Förtsch, maintains positions in Tesla that may benefit from any resulting price movements mentioned in the publication, disclosing potential conflicts of interest. For investors, the allure lies in discovering the next Amazon, Apple, Tesla, or Google before others, holding onto them for years, and witnessing substantial returns. “Stock-Picking,” the act of selecting future winners, is a coveted skill. Successful stock-picker Joel Tillinghast shares his insights, methods, and strategies in his book, offering a blueprint for readers to become more successful investors.
The Tesla stock is also part of the Save the World Index, which aggregates promising stocks in the sustainability, environmental, and climate protection sectors.
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