Texas-Sized Ambitions: The Robotaxi Tracker Data

Tesla’s transition from a car manufacturer to an AI robotics firm is hitting the pavement in the Lone Star State. New data from the Robotaxi Tracker indicates that Tesla now has 39 unsupervised robotaxis operating on public roads CleanTechnica. The fleet is concentrated heavily in Austin, which hosts 27 of the driverless units, while Dallas and Houston have recently added five and six vehicles, respectively CleanTechnica. While the volume remains lower than competitors like Waymo—which operates over 1,300 driverless taxis—Tesla is aggressively testing its Cybercab prototype in unexpected locales, including Buffalo, Boston, and even Alaska CleanTechnica.

Despite the expansion, the rollout faces logistical and safety scrutiny. NHTSA records show 30 incidents involving Tesla’s autonomous fleet over the past year, including five major injuries and 13 cases of property damage CleanTechnica. Elon Musk noted on the most recent earnings call that the primary technical bottleneck isn't safety per se, but rather the vehicles "getting stuck" or performing traffic maneuvers that disturb the flow of human drivers CleanTechnica.

Beijing Diplomacy and the $85 Million Midterm Play

Elon Musk is currently in Beijing, serving as a guest of honor on President Trump’s diplomatic mission to China Gizmodo. Musk is joined by other tech titans, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, for discussions expected to center on trade, AI, and regional stability PBS News. This trip underscores Musk's unique position as both a major government contractor and a primary political financier. Despite previously stating he would pull back on political spending, Musk has become the third-largest donor in the 2026 midterm cycle, pouring $85 million into various campaigns Gizmodo.

Musk’s presence in China is strategically vital for Tesla, given the region's importance as a manufacturing hub and a massive consumer market. However, his dual role as a political donor and the former head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to draw criticism from domestic opponents Gizmodo. Analysts suggest his proximity to the administration could be a catalyst for easing semiconductor export restrictions, which would directly benefit Tesla’s FSD compute needs TipRanks.

SpaceX Preps Starship V3 for May 19 Launch

SpaceX has confirmed that Starship Version 3, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever constructed, is ready for its 12th test flight Live Science. Standing at 407 feet tall—four feet taller than its predecessor—the rocket features upgraded Raptor engines and a redesigned propulsion system capable of carrying more fuel New York Post. The launch is scheduled for May 19 at 6:30 PM EST from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas New York Post.

This mission is critical for the Starship architecture’s goal of "full and rapid reuse" New York Post. Success would bring SpaceX closer to mid-flight refueling capabilities, a prerequisite for NASA's Artemis moon missions New York Post. Meanwhile, the FCC has approved a $40 billion wireless spectrum deal between SpaceX and EchoStar, further expanding the reach of the Starlink satellite network Sherwood News.

Market Watch

TSLA stock closed Thursday at $449.14, marking a +0.87% increase from the prior day's close. The stock is currently trading in an open market characterized by record-breaking highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, driven largely by the AI and Big Tech trade Sherwood News.

While Tesla’s gains were modest compared to Nvidia’s record-shattering market cap of $5.5 trillion Business Insider, analysts remain bullish on the broader autonomous sector. Bank of America recently raised its price target for Nvidia to $320, citing a projected $1.7 trillion AI data center market by 2030—a massive infrastructure tailwind for Tesla’s training clusters Business Insider.