Investing.com -- As Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) prepares for its highly anticipated robotaxi event, analysts at RBC Capital expect volatility in the stock prices of ride-sharing giants Uber (NYSE:UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT).
The event, set to showcase Tesla's advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, could lead to market dislocation for these companies, depending on the specifics presented by CEO Elon Musk regarding regulatory approvals, launch timelines, pricing strategies, and liability concerns, according to RBC.
The bank's analysts believe that while Uber and Lyft investors are already aware of the competitive risks posed by Tesla, the details shared during the event could trigger market reactions.
"We see potential for dislocation with the magnitude depending on the depth & detail Tesla's CEO gives around regulatory approval, launch timing, pricing, supply & demand acquisition strategies and liability exposure," the bank wrote.
They explain that potential disruptions could arise if Tesla hints at subsidizing pricing or altering the economics for driver-owners to capture market share.
RBC believes such moves might reshape the competitive landscape significantly. The RBC note highlights that various players in the AV ecosystem—OEMs, vehicle owners, and tech providers—stand to benefit from the expansion of the total addressable market (TAM).
"We believe many parties can win with AVs expanding the TAM and capture rate of vehicle miles traveled, with Uber and Lyft being beneficiaries," they explained.
As the event approaches, the market will likely react to any announcements about Tesla's testing phases for its AV ride-hailing service, which may commence within the next year.
The analysts emphasize the need for investors to brace for potential impacts while remaining open to opportunistic buying in response to any stock weaknesses that may arise from the event.