The wait is almost over for Tesla’s watershed robotaxi event

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) closed down 1% on Thursday as traders prepped for the “We, Robot” event at 10:00 p.m. The title is a reference to Isaac Asimov’s science fiction short stories called “I, Robot.” CEO Elon Musk is expected to unveil the design for a dedicated robotaxi or Cybercab, update on the FSD software package, highlight the Optimus humanoid robot, and show off either prototypes or previews of new models, potentially including the long-awaited $25K EV, an autonomous truck, or a Cybervan.

Some analysts see the event as a watershed test of whether Tesla (TSLA) deserves its premium valuation as a tech disruptor. Musk has been talking up the potential for autonomous driving for years. “The value of a fully electric autonomous fleet is generally gigantic — boggles the mind, really,” he stated back in 2021. “That will be one of the most valuable things that’s ever done in the history of civilization,” he added. More recently, he said that Tesla (TSLA) is not a car company, but should be thought of as an AI robotics company.

Seeking Alpha Investing Group Leader Victor Dergunov thinks the introduction of a $25,000 compact EV and robotaxi fleet could significantly boost Tesla’s (TSLA) market share and profitability, driving future stock price appreciation.