Part 6/11:
Tesla's sizable annual production capacity—about 2 million cars this year, projected to rise to 2.7 million next year—gives it a formidable advantage in rapidly expanding its autonomous fleet. Because Tesla produces its own vehicles and controls the entire supply chain, it can deploy new robo taxis at a fraction of the cost faced by competitors who rely on third-party manufacturing.
This efficiency translates into lower costs per mile for Tesla’s robo taxis. For example, in Austin, Tesla charges around $1 per mile, significantly cheaper than alternatives from competitors like Wimo or Zuks, which often charge between $2.50 to $3 per mile. As fleet sizes grow and demand increases, economies of scale are expected to further decrease these operational costs.