So here’s the tea: Ross Gerber, who used to be one of Tesla’s biggest cheerleaders, is now basically that friend who warns you about your questionable dating choices. And his latest warning? 2026 is going to be Tesla’s “put up or shut up” year.
Gerber, who runs Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management (yes, that’s a real company name), has gone from Elon superfan to Tesla’s most vocal critic faster than you can say “Cybertruck delay.” His beef isn’t just personal drama—it’s about cold, hard business reality.
The Self-Driving Soap Opera
Here’s where things get spicy. Tesla’s entire future hinges on their self-driving cars actually, you know, driving themselves safely. But while Elon was busy playing government efficiency czar and tweeting about everything except cars, Waymo (Google’s self-driving division) was quietly eating Tesla’s lunch.
The kicker? Gerber thinks Tesla could fix their self-driving problems “next month” if Musk would just swallow his pride and add some LiDAR sensors. But Elon’s stubbornly sticking to his cameras-and-AI-only approach, like that friend who insists they can navigate without GPS while driving in circles.
The Waymo Problem
While Tesla’s been promising full self-driving “next year” for about five years running, Waymo’s actually out there giving rides in multiple cities. It’s like watching someone talk about their startup idea while their competitor is already IPO’d and buying yachts.
Gerber’s betting on Alphabet (Google’s parent company) as the real winner here. Why? They’ve got the money, the tech that actually works, and they’re not distracted by humanoid robots or Twitter drama.
The Image Problem
But here’s the plot twist: even if Tesla magically fixes everything tomorrow, they might still have a problem. Musk’s political adventures have left some consumers feeling… let’s say “complicated” about the brand. Gerber thinks people might literally choose any other ride-sharing option just to avoid the Tesla association. Ouch.
The Bottom Line
Gerber’s calling 2026 Tesla’s “come-to-Jesus year”—the moment when all of Musk’s grand promises about robotaxis, humanoid robots, and world domination either materialize or investors start asking uncomfortable questions about that $400+ stock price.
Tesla’s been riding the hype train for years, but trains eventually have to reach their destination. The question is: will Tesla arrive at “Revolutionary Transportation Company” station, or will they end up at “Overpriced Car Company That Overpromised” junction?
Either way, 2026 is shaping up to be more dramatic than a reality TV finale. Grab your popcorn—this is going to be interesting.