Tesla Launches Robotaxi Service in Austin — Analysts Say It Could Wipe Out Traditional Car Brands

Tesla has officially launched its robotaxi service for limited public use in Austin, a move analysts say could reshape how cars are owned, sold, and used in the years ahead. Piper Sandler, a long-time Tesla bull, sees the rollout not just as another product milestone—but as a signal that the broader auto industry is approaching a turning point it may not be ready for.

In a new investor note, the firm doubled down on its optimistic view of Tesla’s trajectory. “The company is no longer just a car manufacturer—it’s a mobility platform in motion,” wrote Alexander Potter, lead analyst at the firm. He points out that Tesla’s deep integration of hardware, AI-driven software, and fleet services puts it years ahead of traditional automakers still struggling to upgrade their legacy business models.

Robotaxis Shift the Economics of the Car Industry

The implications of self-driving taxis go far beyond convenience. If robotaxis become commercially viable at scale, analysts warn the traditional car market could shrink dramatically. Fewer private vehicle purchases. Higher vehicle utilization. Less need for dealerships and service networks. The result? Lower unit sales, higher fleet consolidation, and a redefinition of automotive revenue—from hardware to services.

This vision aligns closely with Tesla’s strategy. Its Full Self-Driving (FSD) platform is built to support networked, shared mobility—not just help drivers avoid parallel parking. Tesla’s own vehicles could eventually operate like Uber, minus the driver, running nearly 24/7 in major cities. Piper Sandler believes this alone could give Tesla the kind of recurring revenue typically seen in the tech sector—not the auto industry.

Tesla’s Competitive Edge: Software, Not Just Cars

Unlike its peers, Tesla has poured over a decade into building a software stack that it controls end-to-end. That’s becoming its most valuable asset.

Alphabet’s Waymo has technically had a robotaxi service running since 2018, starting in Phoenix and now expanding to cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amazon’s Zoox has also been testing on U.S. roads since 2023. And in China, Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi network has been picking up real passengers since 2022. But despite this activity, Tesla's vertically integrated approach—one vehicle, one OS, one fleet vision—remains unmatched in scope.

“Tesla doesn’t have to wait for suppliers to catch up or coordinate across third-party hardware vendors,” said Piper Sandler. “That kind of control gives them faster feedback loops and fewer points of failure.”

Traditional Carmakers Are Losing Ground

As Tesla’s robotaxis go live, legacy automakers are visibly stuck in second gear. Ford and GM, both of which previously promised autonomous offerings, are behind on execution and depend on partnerships or third-party tech. GM’s Cruise, for example, had to halt operations in 2023 after one of its autonomous vehicles hit a pedestrian in San Francisco, triggering regulatory backlash and a full-scale shutdown of its driverless fleet.

Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Peugeot, and Fiat, faces internal management instability and complex geographic challenges, making it the least agile of the major global players, according to Piper Sandler. Rivian, though more nimble, remains constrained by its production scale and capital demands.

“No other automaker has Tesla’s mix of technical ambition and operational control,” analysts wrote. “Everyone else is either too slow, too fractured, or too reliant on outside tech.”

Short-Term Risks Remain, Even for Tesla

Despite this strategic lead, Tesla isn’t invincible. The company’s Q1 2025 results were well below Wall Street expectations, with revenue falling to $19.34 billion—a sharp miss against the anticipated $21.43 billion. Adjusted profits dropped by 40% year-over-year, and vehicle deliveries fell to 336,681, Tesla’s weakest quarter since mid-2022.

In Europe, sales have declined for five straight months, with a 27.9% drop in May alone, as consumer sentiment cools and electric vehicle demand flattens. Boycotts tied to CEO Elon Musk’s political statements have also impacted brand reputation in key markets like Germany and the Nordics.

There are technical risks, too. A single high-profile crash involving a Tesla robotaxi could rattle investor confidence and invite renewed scrutiny from regulators. Piper Sandler acknowledges this as a looming threat, calling such an event “inevitable” at scale, but suggests the long-term payoff outweighs these short-term pitfalls.

Stock Surges on Autonomy Hype—But Is It Sustainable?

Tesla shares are riding a wave of optimism. In June alone, the stock jumped 40%, adding over $200 billion to the company’s market cap. Yet even with that rally, the stock remains down 10% for the year.

Some analysts are skeptical. Chad Morganlander, a portfolio manager at Washington Crossing Advisors, recently called Tesla’s valuation “insane,” citing its sky-high price-to-earnings ratio and the company’s lagging fundamentals.

But for investors focused on long-term structural change in transportation, Piper Sandler’s message is clear: Tesla’s real business isn’t selling EVs—it’s rewriting how mobility works. And right now, there’s no serious competitor doing the same at the same speed.

Also Read: Tesla Stock Gains Again After Robotaxi Debut in Austin