Critique of Tesla's Full Self-Driving on Cybertruck by Investor Ross Gerber

Furthermore, Gerber drew a stark contrast between Tesla's FSD technology and that of Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo. He asserted that at present, Tesla’s FSD is “not even in the same league as Waymo,” emphasizing concerns about its efficacy and reliability.

This statement ignited discussions within the Tesla community, leading to various opinions among users. Some individuals shared divergent experiences, including one user who highlighted having driven 1,800 miles with only a single safety-critical disengagement.

“I have the exact opposite experience, have driven 1,800 miles and had 1 actual safety critical disengagement. But keep talking your own book to save face you missed the rally from $200-$485,” tweeted Mark Ferrara, showcasing the split in user experiences.

Significance of the Criticisms: Gerber’s statements arrive at a pivotal moment for Tesla, as the company seeks to enhance its autonomous driving prospects. CEO Elon Musk has projected that the FSD capabilities will surpass human driving safety by the second quarter of 2025. Nevertheless, concerns have been voiced by individuals within Tesla, like researcher Troy Teslike, who argues that Tesla may be attempting to bypass essential developmental stages that competitors like Waymo have diligently refined over the years.

Additionally, analysts at Goldman Sachs, including Mark Delaney, have noted “meaningful improvement” with the latest version of FSD. However, they maintain a conservative outlook, giving Tesla a Neutral rating with a price target of $345 per share. Delaney has also forecasted modest initial revenue from robotaxi services, estimating about $115 million by 2027, assuming a fleet of 1,500 vehicles.

Tesla’s endeavors in autonomous driving are also under the watchful eye of regulatory authorities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently launched investigations into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD technology, stemming from safety concerns and incidents that have been reported.

Concluding Remarks: As Tesla strives to establish itself in the autonomous vehicle market, the criticism from notable investors like Gerber highlights the ongoing challenges and scrutiny that the company faces. The contrasting feedback from users also emphasizes the variability in FSD performance, calling for further improvements and reassurances regarding safety and usability.