Tesla’s bold plans in self-driving, robotics, and factory growth came into focus this week as Piper Sandler analysts toured the company’s Gigafactory in Nevada.
In a note published Friday, the analysts said construction has started on the assembly line for the Tesla Semi. While they admitted they haven’t expected much from the long-delayed truck, they noted Tesla looks ready for a serious production ramp.
On autonomous driving, the firm highlighted that Tesla’s robo-taxi service in Austin now covers more than 170 square miles. That’s nearly double the 90 square miles Waymo currently operates in the same city. Tesla is also preparing to launch Full Self-Driving (FSD) version 14 in September or October. Piper Sandler believes this update could give Tesla owners access to software that performs at a level comparable to the robo-taxi service already on the road in Austin.
The analysts acknowledged that regulators remain cautious, but they argued that skepticism should ease over time as long as Tesla can back up its claims with strong data.
Beyond cars, Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus is also on the radar. Piper Sandler expects that by 2026, the robot could be moving and staging parts inside Tesla factories. If it can work up to 18 hours a day, the analysts said, its $100,000 price tag would be worth it.
Tesla still faces cost pressures, especially from higher tariffs in the second half of the year that could add “a couple thousand” dollars per vehicle. Changes to U.S. tax credits are also prompting buyers to move up their purchases into the third quarter. However, demand for Tesla’s lower-priced car could help balance things out.
Despite these challenges, Piper Sandler reaffirmed its Overweight rating on Tesla, pointing to the company’s focus on protecting cash flow and keeping operations self-funded.
