TLDR
- Tesla stock jumped 3% on Monday following a $16.5 billion chip manufacturing deal with Samsung
- The AI6 chips will be produced in Samsung’s new Texas factory for Tesla’s vehicles and personal robots
- Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin on June 22 with Model Y vehicles at $4.20 per ride
- The company completed its first fully autonomous vehicle delivery on June 27 in Austin
- Cantor analyst Andres Sheppard maintains an Overweight rating with a $355 price target
Tesla stock climbed 3% on Monday after announcing a major partnership with Samsung and expanding its robotaxi operations. The electric vehicle maker reached as high as 4.6% during trading before settling at the 3% gain by market close.
The rally came as the S&P 500 remained flat and the Nasdaq Composite rose just 0.3%. Tesla’s outperformance signals investor enthusiasm for the company’s latest strategic moves.
Tesla and Samsung signed a $16.5 billion deal for the South Korean electronics giant to manufacture Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chips. The chips will be produced at Samsung’s new Texas factory.
CEO Elon Musk said on X that Samsung agreed to let Tesla help maximize manufacturing efficiency. He added that the $16.5 billion figure represents just the minimum, with actual output likely several times higher.
The AI6 chips are designed to enable artificial intelligence inference for Tesla’s vehicles and personal robots. While production is still years away, the announcement was enough to send shares higher.
Tesla’s robotaxi service officially launched in Austin on June 22. The company began using Model Y vehicles equipped with autonomous driving technology to transport select passengers.
The service operates in predefined neighborhoods with a flat fee of $4.20 per ride. Each vehicle currently includes a safety monitor in the front passenger seat for supervision.
Autonomous Milestones Drive Expansion
Tesla achieved another milestone on June 27 with its first fully autonomous vehicle delivery. A Model Y departed the Gigafactory, drove through Austin streets, and parked in a customer’s driveway without human intervention.
New Model Y is gorgeous pic.twitter.com/9fqLrwFekj
— Tesla Newswire Fan (@TeslaNewswire) July 22, 2025
The company announced plans last week to expand its robotaxi operation in Austin. Tesla will add more vehicles and increase service coverage as the system develops.
As regulations allow, Tesla aims to remove the in-car safety monitors entirely. This would create a truly driverless passenger experience for users.
Looking ahead to 2026, Tesla plans to introduce the Cybercab. This purpose-built autonomous vehicle will have no steering wheel or pedals.
Analyst Sees Strong Growth Potential
Cantor analyst Andres Sheppard views Tesla’s robotaxi expansion as a key competitive advantage. He sees the moves as positioning Tesla as a leader in the autonomous vehicle market.
Sheppard expects robotaxi expansion into the Bay Area during the third quarter. Arizona, Nevada, and possibly Florida could follow in the fourth quarter of 2025 or 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
The analyst describes Tesla’s robotaxi segment as a software-as-a-service model with high margins. He expects Tesla to scale rapidly after commercialization begins.
Sheppard rates Tesla shares Overweight with a $355 price target. He believes Tesla will capture leading market share in autonomous transportation.
However, the broader analyst community shows mixed sentiment. The consensus rating stands at Hold based on 14 Buy ratings, 15 Hold ratings, and 8 Sell ratings.
The average price target of $310.65 suggests about 5% downside from current levels. This reflects the divided opinions among Wall Street analysts.
Tesla continues facing headwinds from increased competition, particularly from Chinese EV makers like BYD. Global sales have declined as the company navigates these challenges.
The Samsung chip deal and robotaxi expansion represent Tesla’s push into new revenue streams beyond traditional vehicle sales. The AI6 chips will support both automotive and robotics applications as Tesla diversifies its technology portfolio.
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