Tesla Bets Big on Robotics as Auto sales Dip,Investors Question Strategy
Austin,TX – Tesla is increasingly staking its future on the success of its humanoid robot,Optimus,even as the electric vehicle maker faces slowing sales and investor skepticism. The company’s valuation appears increasingly tied to the potential of robotics, a shift that some analysts warn could be masking underlying structural issues within the core automotive business.
Tesla recently signaled that Optimus could represent as much as 80% of its market value,a decisive move away from customary car manufacturing toward robotics and physical AI. this gamble comes amid Tesla’s worst sales dip in years, prompting analysts at JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley to trim forecasts, anticipating a perhaps lengthy wait for returns on investment in AI and robotics.
“A lot of the share price is tied to the love of Elon and having robots do everything for us. But when he left, it was a house of cards,” James McRitchie, a private Tesla investor, told Reuters. ”I think the same is probably true of Tesla. It’s a good company, but it might very well be a much better company and it’s over-valued.”
While supporters suggest humanoid robots like Optimus could unlock productivity gains comparable to the advent of smartphones, potentially reshaping economies, other industry leaders are taking a different approach. Amazon, despite operating over 750,000 industrial robots in its warehouses, remains focused on non-humanoid automation, signaling a divergence in robotics strategy.
The central question remains unanswered: when will these robots generate revenue? Without a clear commercial roadmap, realistic growth timelines, or proof of profitable scalability, investors could become hesitant. As Optimus transitions from concept to commercial reality, Tesla faces the challenge of proving its “robot-first” thesis or risking a place among unfulfilled tech promises.
