Elon Musk Promises Tesla Will Profit From Robotaxis by 2025

Elon Musk has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding Tesla’s self-driving technology, stating that the company will start to see profits from its autonomous driving capabilities next year, with “millions of Tesla robotaxis” expected to be operational in the latter half of 2025.

This announcement came during Tesla’s Q1 2025 financial results conference, where Musk reiterated the critical role self-driving technology plays in the company’s future, despite Tesla recently falling short of earnings expectations.

Surprisingly, Musk’s optimistic comments propelled Tesla’s stock up by 4% in after-hours trading, hinting that investor faith in his predictions remains intact, even after years of unmet timelines.

Skepticism Grows Over Musk’s Timeline for Tesla’s Self-Driving Technology

Historically, these assertions have become somewhat of a running joke, as Musk has frequently made bold claims regarding self-driving cars that have not yet materialized.

However, skepticism surrounds Musk’s timeline, as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is still not ready for unsupervised operation. Current tests reveal several hurdles, including erratic human drivers, poor road conditions, and the unpredictable nature of real-world environments.

For instance, Tesla has acknowledged that the current FSD version requires frequent interventions from drivers, particularly in complex scenarios that are common in urban settings like Austin.

While the company aims to showcase its self-driving capabilities this June, critics argue that the system will likely operate under heavily restricted conditions such as limited geographic areas and teleoperation assistance. Thus, the road from these limited testing frameworks to achieving fully autonomous operation in consumer vehicles—and deploying millions of robotaxis—appears fraught with challenges.

As it stands, analysts are cautious about Tesla meeting its aggressive timelines, suggesting that significant technological and regulatory hurdles remain ahead before the dream of widespread autonomous driving becomes a reality.