TLDR
- Tesla plans to invest over $20 billion in 2026, more than double its 2025 spending, focusing on autonomous vehicles and robotaxis
- Three of six planned factories will produce Optimus robots, Semi trucks, and battery storage systems, while three support EV production including Cybercab manufacturing
- CEO Elon Musk predicts less than 5% of future miles will be driven by humans, with Cybercabs eventually outnumbering all other Tesla vehicles combined
- Tesla Model 3 ranks as most expensive vehicle commonly used for rideshare, with Cybercab expected to cost under $30,000 and offer lower per-mile costs
- Tesla’s energy storage business deployed record 14.2 GWh in Q4 2025, generating roughly $12 billion in annual revenue from power division
Tesla is placing its biggest bet yet. The electric vehicle maker plans to spend over $20 billion in 2026 alone. That’s more than double what the company invested last year.
The spending spree marks a clear direction. CEO Elon Musk is pushing hard into autonomous vehicles and robotaxis. He’s not backing away from traditional EVs, but he sees the future differently than competitors.
Three of six planned factories will focus on new ventures. One will build Optimus humanoid robots. Another will manufacture Semi trucks. The third will produce battery storage systems for the power grid.
The other three factories support the EV business. Tesla is building a lithium refinery, a battery factory for lower-cost models, and a dedicated Cybercab production facility. The Cybercab is Tesla’s purpose-built robotaxi vehicle.
Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis have scaled back their EV plans. They’re focusing on cheaper models. Tesla is going the opposite direction.
The Robotaxi Vision
Musk shared his vision on the recent earnings call. He believes less than 5% of future miles will involve human drivers. That number could drop to just 1%.
“We would expect over time to make far more Cybercabs than all of our other vehicles combined,” Musk said. That’s a major shift in production strategy.
The plan requires regulatory approval for robotaxis. Tesla also needs to launch Cybercab successfully. Then it must get commercial approval for its Full Self-Driving software.
Early data supports the robotaxi concept. Insurify.com tracks which vehicles rideshare drivers prefer. The Tesla Model 3 tops the list as the most expensive car commonly used for rideshare work.
The Model 3’s lower cost per mile makes it attractive to drivers despite the higher purchase price. A Cybercab could cost less than $30,000. Without a driver, its per-mile cost would drop even further.
Power Business Grows
Tesla’s energy storage division hit a record in Q4 2025. It deployed 14.2 gigawatt-hours of energy storage products. The power business generated roughly $12 billion in revenue last year.
That’s close to the annual revenue of UK energy company SSE. SSE has a market cap of £31 billion. Tesla’s power division builds on its battery expertise from the vehicle business.
The company sold 1.6 million cars last year. Automotive revenue reached just under $70 billion. Services and other revenues made up almost a fifth of total revenue.
Tesla stock is up 18% over the past year. The company’s market cap sits at $1.4 trillion. Shares traded at $417.32 as of February 13, 2026.
The lithium refinery investment supports battery production. Those batteries will power the Cybercab fleet. The lower-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries are ideal for robotaxis and affordable EVs.
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