Please do not underestimate the 'First mover advantage'. Legislators and politicians, that are dealing with this cases, know exactly, that if the US won't do it (soon), China will, or Europe. The first mover advantage is crucial: You see, that Tesla has build a massive company and success story, by being the first (major) electrical car producer. That is the same that will happen with full autonomous driving. They will test it all out; as far as I know, waymo is driving since 2019, so they have a lot of data for their own tech. And: they are driving fully autonomously in some cities in the US. Tesla has another techn. approach, still all that will be tested a thousand (or a million ?) times, gathering lots of training data in all kinds of situations, before they just think about letting these cars roll on their own. Economically, it will come, because there is no other choice. You won't let China build the first autonomous, good-looking car, and sell it in the millions. That is the whole point. 27/28 we'll see fully autonomous cars in major cities, that's my bet. Tesla stock will most likely become a hit again, including the optimus robot.
Autonomous is "working" in limited places under certain limited conditions. Just like AI works sorta. As for Tesla stock price, there are not enough Cathy Woods' in this world to get it back above its all time high. At least not likely anytime soon, if ever.
What limited conditions does Los Angeles or San Francisco have?! Multi million inhabitants cities, with all kinds of action at any time; many pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes and cars. Right today, you can call a waymo car and it will deliver you to your destination, fully autonomous. What is so different between those big cities and others? Actually nothing. It's about the tech itself, and if waymo drives driverless today using lidar/radar, Tesla could achieve the same in 2 years from now with its own tech. No Cathy Wood needed here.
Waymo does NOT operate in all of Los Angeles. Limmmmmmited areas still. While it does in San Fran a city of under one million people. Bravo. That is the difference. If there was any little inkling Tesla would be making things happen any time soon, the stock price would reflect that ahead of time. It isn't because it ain't.
Musk is trying to sell the idea that everyone buys a robotaxi and stays home playing video games while irking out a living as a taxi company.
Just like he has making like he is running multiple tech companies the past year or so while he really has only been tweeting (or is that x-ing) outrageous nonsense and going to political rallies, yet more nonsense.
Waymo cab stops in middle of Texas expressway and locks passengers inside. Murderbot writers seen taking notes for next series. Passengers Alarmed as Self-Driving Car Kidnaps Them, Refuses to Let Them Exit "Cars kept honking at us and it would not move, would not let us out." https://futurism.com/self-driving-waymo-haywire
If there is one thing that is certain. Tesla will Not be the early mover in Self Driving. Promising The moon..delivering a basic single style electric car.