--- title: "Robotaxis, Robots, and Hope Are Tesla’s Plan To Become $8.5 Trillion Company: TDS" date: "2025-09-09" modified: "2025-09-09" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/robotaxis-robots-and-hope-are-teslas-plan-to-become-8-5-trillion-company-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Robotaxis, Robots, and Hope Are Tesla’s Plan To Become $8.5 Trillion Company: TDS ![Tesla Robotaxi]() Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Tight, light, and right, *TDS* gathers all the latest automotive news bubbling around the universe in one place. Stories are summarized in a single (sometimes long) sentence with a link provided for those seeking more information. I'm back in the driver's seat after a long fishing weekend with plenty of walleye, northern pike, perch, and muskie stories. The first cup of coffee's is gone, so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: The 2025 Cadillac Escalade V is gone, and might I say what a machine for road trips, and there's nothing in the driveway at the moment as I hit the road tomorrow. 💰 Despite Tesla's market share in the U.S. dropping to its lowest point since 2017 as the competition heats up, the automaker [aims for an $8.5 trillion market valuation]() to justify CEO Elon Musk's new pay package, but the plan relies on humanoid robots, a robotaxi network that doesn't exist, and hope, rather than simply just selling vehicles. ⚠️ Another day and another Ford recall, and this time the Blue Oval's [recalling nearly 1.5 million vehicles]() in the U.S. over faulty rear-view camera issues. ❄️ The [2026 Toyota Highlander lineup debuted]() with standard all-wheel drive across the model range. 👴 The [2026 Lexus IS debuted](), did not get killed off, and actually brings forth a mild refresh marking the current model's third update. 🔌 The [2026 Polestar 5 fastback debuted](), but it's unclear if the EV will come to the U.S. market. 🔮 The mid-size Lucid EV, presumed to be named Earth, is set to arrive late next year if the startup automaker can drum up enough cash to keep the lights on, and it'll [have an off-road variant](). 🪩 The face of the [Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV was teased](), and it looks similar to that of the GLC EV that just debuted in Munich. 🔋 Mercedes-Benz made a flurry of EV charging and battery announcements including an EQS prototype with solid-state batteries [traveling 749 miles on a single charge](), the [integration of 600-kW chargers]() to its EV charging network in 2026, and [hitting a charging speed of 1 megawatt]() for 2.5 minutes using just one cable in half a second. 💸 Volkswagen is talking with the [U.S. about an investment deal]() that would see possible production of Audis and maybe even Porsches stateside, this all while the automaker's looking to [invest billions of Euros in AI]() by the end of the decade. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()