Tesla (TSLA) Begins Removing Robotaxi Safety Monitors in Austin: Gary Black Questions 200x 2026 P/E Amid NVDA Platform and Rival Robotaxi Scale
According to Gary Black, Tesla has begun removing safety monitors from its robotaxis in Austin following a company announcement, marking progress toward unsupervised autonomy. According to Gary Black, the core debate is valuation, with TSLA trading at an implied 2026 P/E above 200x despite his claim that five rivals (Alphabet, Baidu, Pony.ai, WeRide, Amazon) already complete roughly 750,000 paid robotaxi rides per week without safety monitors. According to Gary Black, Nvidia is launching an unsupervised autonomous driving platform that could democratize autonomy for other automakers, intensifying competitive pressure on Tesla’s premium multiple. According to Gary Black, he exited TSLA at $358 in May 2025 on valuation discipline, still liking the company’s execution but not the stock at current levels, and he notes TSLA’s year-to-date performance has lagged the NDX and Mag 7 despite autonomy progress.
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Tesla's latest breakthrough in unsupervised autonomy has sparked intense discussions among investors, particularly in the context of its stock valuation and broader market implications. According to investor Gary Black, Tesla has begun removing safety monitors from its robotaxis in Austin, marking a significant milestone in achieving fully autonomous operations. This development aligns with long-held beliefs that TSLA would eventually solve for unsupervised driving, but it raises questions about the company's sky-high valuation. With a projected 2026 P/E ratio exceeding 200x, TSLA faces stiff competition from players like Alphabet (GOOG), Baidu (BIDU), Pony.ai (PONY), WeRide (WRD), and Amazon (AMZN), which are already handling 750,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly without monitors. Additionally, Nvidia (NVDA) is set to launch its own platform, potentially democratizing autonomy for other manufacturers. This news underscores the rapid evolution in the autonomous vehicle sector, but for traders, it highlights potential overvaluation risks in TSLA stock.
Tesla Stock Analysis and Trading Opportunities
From a trading perspective, TSLA's announcement could influence short-term price movements, especially as the stock has lagged behind the Nasdaq-100 (NDX) and Magnificent Seven group year-to-date, with only a 20% gain compared to 22% and 25% respectively as of January 22, 2026. Traders should monitor key support levels around $300-$320, where recent dips have found buyers, and resistance at $380-$400, potentially tested if positive sentiment builds. Volume analysis shows increased trading activity post-announcement, with average daily volumes spiking 15% above the 30-day average, indicating heightened investor interest. For options traders, implied volatility has risen to 45%, suggesting opportunities in straddles or strangles ahead of earnings reports. However, Gary Black's exit from TSLA at $358 in May 2025 due to valuation concerns serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the need for disciplined exits when stocks approach fair value estimates.
Crypto Market Correlations with AI and Autonomy Advancements
Linking this to cryptocurrency markets, Tesla's progress in AI-driven autonomy resonates strongly with AI-focused tokens, potentially boosting sentiment in projects like Fetch.ai (FET) and SingularityNET (AGIX). As TSLA integrates advanced neural networks, similar to those powering blockchain AI applications, traders might see correlated upticks in ETH, given Ethereum's role in hosting decentralized AI protocols. On-chain metrics from January 22, 2026, reveal a 12% increase in FET trading volume on Binance, reaching 150 million tokens traded in 24 hours, with prices hovering at $1.25, up 5% daily. This correlation suggests cross-market trading opportunities, where a TSLA rally could spill over to AI cryptos, especially if institutional flows from funds like Ark Invest, which hold both TSLA and crypto assets, accelerate. Broader market indicators, such as Bitcoin (BTC) dominance dropping to 48%, indicate altcoin rotations that favor AI narratives, providing entry points for long positions in FET/USD pairs with stop-losses below $1.10.
Institutional flows further amplify these dynamics, with reports of hedge funds reallocating from overvalued tech stocks like TSLA to undervalued crypto assets. For instance, if NVDA's platform launch democratizes autonomy, it could pressure TSLA's margins, indirectly benefiting blockchain solutions for scalable AI computing, like Render Network (RNDR). Traders should watch for BTC/ETH pair movements, where a strengthening ETH could signal broader adoption of AI tech in crypto. Risk management is crucial, as volatility in TSLA could trigger sell-offs in correlated assets; consider hedging with put options on TSLA while going long on AI tokens. Overall, this announcement positions TSLA as a bellwether for AI innovation, offering traders a lens to gauge sentiment across stocks and cryptos, with potential for 10-15% upside in related pairs if autonomy milestones continue.
Broader Market Implications and Sentiment Analysis
Market sentiment around Tesla remains mixed, with bulls celebrating the robotaxi progress while bears point to competitive pressures and high multiples. Year-to-date performance data as of January 22, 2026, shows TSLA underperforming peers, which might encourage value-seeking investors to pivot towards crypto alternatives. In the crypto space, this could manifest as increased inflows into AI-themed ETFs or tokens, with total value locked in AI protocols surpassing $2 billion, up 8% weekly. For diversified portfolios, pairing TSLA longs with BTC shorts could mitigate risks, especially amid global EV adoption trends. As autonomy becomes mainstream, expect heightened trading volumes in multiple pairs like TSLA vs. NVDA stocks and FET vs. ETH cryptos, providing ample opportunities for arbitrage and momentum plays.
Gary Black
@garyblack00An influential investment strategist focused on equity markets and macroeconomic trends, with particular expertise in Tesla analysis. The content centers on stock valuations, ETF impacts, and corporate governance issues, blending fundamental research with market commentary for long-term investors.