Today’s the third Friday of the quarter, meaning stock index futures, stock index options, and stock options are all expiring simultaneously. Single-stock futures are mostly gone, so it’s technically triple witching, but the quad name sticks.
This convergence often leads to higher trading volumes, especially in the last hour from 3:00 to 4:00 PM EST, as traders close or roll over positions. You might see some price volatility, but historical data shows no consistent trend—some days are quiet, others choppy.
The precious metals are taking a beating today as leveraged plays come off. If you are looking to buy some silver miners today might be the last day you can buy the dip. I like the Silver Miner ETF (SILJ) at $14.43 where it fills the gap.
Its unusual that you’d have so many red candlesticks without a significant selloff. It just stinks of manipulation where they want to end the day down.
Robotaxis Accelerating
The robotaxi market is hitting the gas, or battery as the case may be. Let’s break down the latest moves, the growth trajectory, how they’re changing cities, and why now’s the time to invest.
Recent Developments
The robotaxi industry is moving from test runs to real-world traction. Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, is the frontrunner, operating over 1,500 vehicles in the U.S., with 250,000 weekly rides and a market share surpassing Lyft in San Francisco.
Tesla’s set to launch its robotaxi pilot in Austin this month, using Model Ys with no steering wheels, though Elon Musk’s earlier promises of a million robotaxis by 2020 haven’t materialized.
Chinese players are no slouches—WeRide’s serving passengers in Abu Dhabi, and Pony AI’s targeting break-even by 2028 with vehicles costing just $28,000. Baidu’s Apollo Go is expanding in China, while Zoox (Amazon) is testing in Las Vegas and San Francisco, aiming for commercial service soon.
Partnerships are key: Waymo’s tied up with Uber, and Hyundai’s testing Level 4 tech for urban navigation. Regulatory progress is helping—over 50 cities globally are expected to greenlight fully autonomous taxis by 2027, with 42 countries adopting UNECE Level 4 standards.
Future Growth
The numbers are staggering. The robotaxi market, which was valued at $0.4 billion in 2023, is projected to hit $45.7 billion by 2030, with a 91.8% CAGR. By 2035, it could reach $68.75 billion, with over 700,000 robotaxis on roads.
Why? Costs are dropping—Waymo’s vehicles, once $120,000, are getting cheaper thanks to AI advances, better sensors, and economies of scale.
Robotaxis eliminate driver salaries, a major expense for ride-hailing firms, and can run 24/7, boosting fleet utilization to 70% versus traditional taxis’ idling time. Electric vehicle adoption and falling battery costs make them eco-friendly and cheaper to operate.
Regulatory tailwinds, like China’s 2025 autonomous vehicle blueprint and U.S. city approvals, are fueling expansion. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) tech will enhance efficiency, letting robotaxis sync with traffic systems. The trajectory is clear: robotaxis are set to dominate urban mobility.
Physical Changes to Towns
The way to invest isn’t just in the taxi manufacturers. Robotaxis will change our landscapes. There are companies you’ve never heard of that will reap huge rewards.
Robotaxis are forcing cities to rethink their infrastructure. Urban planners are designing dedicated lanes, pickup zones, and charging hubs to handle autonomous fleets. Traffic signals are being upgraded for V2I communication, syncing lights with robotaxi movements to cut congestion. Cities like Neom in Saudi Arabia and Dubai are building from scratch with driverless vehicles in mind—think smart roads and automated parking.
In China, Beijing’s opening a robot dealership in August, signaling a shift toward AV-friendly urban design. By 2030, expect redesigned intersections, updated signage, and reduced parking lots as robotaxis lower private car ownership. These changes boost efficiency but demand big upfront investments, especially in 5G and high-definition mapping. Traditional public transit, like buses, may lose riders to cheaper robotaxi fares, reshaping urban transport ecosystems.
Why Buy Now
Robotaxis are a once-in-a-decade opportunity. Early leaders—Waymo, Tesla, Baidu—are locking in market share, but related sectors like AI (NVIDIA), sensors (Mobileye), and batteries are also hot. Waymo’s $5 billion Alphabet backing and WeRide’s $458.5 million Nasdaq raise show the money’s flowing.
Stocks in these spaces could see outsized gains as robotaxis scale. Risks? Sure—regulatory hurdles, tech glitches, or some unforseen accident could rattle markets. But the growth potential outweighs the noise. Robotaxis are cheaper than Uber long-term, and consumer demand for on-demand, driverless rides is climbing.
But forget about Alphabet and other megacaps. Waymo won’t move the needle enough to matter. But I’ve found three robotaxi stocks that are trading under $5. These companies are all in with huge upside potential. Check it our here.
All the best,
Christian DeHaemer
