Tesla stock and robotaxi are at the center of major shifts in the electric vehicle and autonomous driving sectors. As of September 2025, Tesla's progress in robotaxi testing and its stock performance are drawing significant attention from investors and industry observers. This article breaks down the latest regulatory milestones, financial updates, and what these mean for the future of Tesla and the broader autonomous vehicle market.
As of September 20, 2025, Tesla received approval from Arizona authorities to begin testing robotaxis with a safety monitor onboard (Source: Cryptopolitan). This follows earlier permits in Texas and Nevada, making Arizona the third state to allow such trials. Tesla's application process began in late June, targeting the Phoenix area for initial deployment. The company sought two types of permits: one for testing with a safety driver and another for fully driverless operations. However, to offer public rides, Tesla must still secure a transportation network license, similar to those required by ride-hailing platforms.
These regulatory steps are crucial as Tesla aims to expand its robotaxi program beyond its initial rollout in Austin and the Bay Area. All current tests use an unreleased version of Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) software, with a safety monitor present at all times. There is no confirmed timeline for removing the safety driver, but the infrastructure for broader deployment is being established.
The tesla stock and robotaxi narrative is closely watched by investors, especially following recent financial events. After a challenging first quarter in 2025, Tesla's stock rebounded sharply. As of the week ending September 19, 2025, shares closed at $426, up 5.2% for the week and 85% above the April low of $221.86. This recovery was further fueled by news that Elon Musk, via his family foundation, purchased $1 billion in Tesla shares, signaling confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
Despite this rebound, Tesla remains the second-worst performing stock among major tech firms in 2025, with only Apple faring worse. The company faces ongoing headwinds from declining vehicle deliveries, reduced regulatory credit revenue, and increased competition, particularly from Chinese automakers like BYD. In Q2 2025, Tesla reported total revenues of $22.5 billion, a 12% year-on-year decrease, and a 16% drop in GAAP net income to $1.17 billion. Vehicle deliveries fell 13% to 384,122 units, while production remained flat at 410,244 units.
Tesla's strategic pivot toward AI and robotics is evident in its recent milestones. In June 2025, the company launched its robotaxi service in Austin for a limited group of users and later expanded access to the Bay Area. The robotaxi initiative is closely tied to Tesla's Full Self Driving technology, which continues to accumulate billions of supervised miles. Additionally, Tesla has bolstered its AI infrastructure, adding 16,000 H200 GPUs for training autonomous systems.
These advancements are part of Tesla's broader vision to transition from a traditional automaker to a technology company focused on sustainable energy and autonomous systems. The company's energy generation and storage segment showed resilience, with record Powerwall deployments and the launch of Megapack shipping from its Shanghai factory. Meanwhile, the Services and Other segment saw a 17% year-on-year revenue increase to $3.05 billion.
The tesla stock and robotaxi story is also shaped by intensifying global competition. In Europe, Tesla's market share declined as BYD registered 13,503 new vehicles in July 2025, a 225% year-on-year increase, surpassing Tesla's 8,837 registrations. BYD's rapid expansion and strong sales in key European markets highlight the challenges Tesla faces in maintaining its leadership position.
Internationally, Tesla launched the Model Y in India and achieved strong delivery volumes in Asian markets such as South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Despite these successes, the company continues to navigate a complex landscape of evolving consumer preferences and regulatory environments.
Investor sentiment around tesla stock and robotaxi remains mixed. While the recent stock rebound and Musk's substantial share purchase have boosted confidence, analysts are closely monitoring the company's ability to execute its robotaxi vision and achieve long-term profitability. A proposed $1 trillion compensation plan for Musk, contingent on ambitious performance targets including robotaxi rollout and AI advancements, underscores the high stakes involved.
Tesla maintains a strong liquidity position, with $36.8 billion in cash as of Q2 2025, and asserts that it has sufficient resources to fund its product roadmap and expansion plans. The company expects future profits to increasingly come from AI, software, and fleet-based services, complementing its hardware business.
As the landscape for tesla stock and robotaxi continues to evolve, staying informed is essential. For those interested in the intersection of technology, finance, and autonomous vehicles, Bitget provides up-to-date market analysis and secure trading solutions. Explore more on Bitget to deepen your understanding of emerging trends and manage your crypto assets with confidence using Bitget Wallet.