ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood views Tesla less as a traditional carmaker and more as a future leader in autonomous mobility. In comments cited by Wallstreet-Online, Wood emphasized that investors should reassess Tesla’s valuation by focusing on its long-term potential in robotaxis and autonomous driving services rather than on vehicle sales alone.
According to Wood, Tesla is undergoing a strategic shift from a hardware-based automotive business toward a software- and platform-driven model. While conventional car manufacturing typically offers limited margins, autonomous robotaxi services could generate substantially higher profitability. Wood estimates that margins in such a model could reach 70 to 80 percent, comparable to those of software companies.
ARK Invest has long argued that autonomous mobility powered by artificial intelligence represents one of the most disruptive growth opportunities of the coming decade. If regulatory approval and technical reliability are achieved, the global robotaxi market could evolve into a multi-trillion-US-dollar industry, fundamentally reshaping transportation and urban mobility.
Tesla has already taken steps in this direction through its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and ongoing testing of autonomous driving capabilities. The company is positioning itself to eventually offer fully autonomous ride-hailing services, which would significantly alter its revenue structure and investor perception.
Wood’s thesis reflects a broader trend among growth investors, who increasingly value scalable software and service models over traditional manufacturing. While Tesla shares remain volatile in the short term, proponents of the robotaxi strategy argue that long-term upside could be substantial if technological and regulatory hurdles are successfully overcome.
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