Tesla’s Flying Machines & Uber’s Steady Horses

Now, I’ve seen a good many bubbles in my time – land schemes in Florida, gold mines in California, and more recently, these electric contraptions folks are so enamored with. This Tesla business, you see, has become quite the spectacle. A company valued higher than several nations combined, built on the promise of…well, flying machines, more or less. It’s enough to make a man long for the simplicity of a good mule and a dirt road.

The Wall Street fellas are practically giddy, assigning a price to this company that suggests they expect it to solve all the world’s problems before breakfast. A price-to-earnings ratio that’d make a Mississippi gambler blush. But as my dear departed mama used to say, “Son, a high price don’t always mean a good bargain.”

And now comes Uber, a company that, while not promising to reach for the stars, is quietly hauling folks around town. A rather more practical endeavor, wouldn’t you say? Their CEO, a Mr. Khosrowshahi, has been making pronouncements, and they’re worth a listen, especially for those who’ve staked their fortunes on these electric dreams.

You see, Mr. Khosrowshahi believes that these self-driving carriages – these “autonomous vehicles,” as the city slickers call ’em – are going to remain a rather small part of the picture for quite some time. He figures, and I reckon he’s got a point, that folks will still need a driver behind the wheel for a good many years. A sensible notion, that. It’s like expecting a steam engine to replace a horse overnight. Takes time, it does.

Now, this is a bit of a damper on Tesla’s plans, which, if you recall, involve a fleet of robotaxis whisking folks about without a soul at the helm. They’ve got a few of these contraptions running around Austin and the Bay Area, but it’s a far cry from a worldwide operation. A good many hurdles remain – technical, regulatory, and the matter of keeping folks from getting squashed like a bug, naturally.

Uber, on the other hand, is already in seven cities with these partnerships, and plans to expand to eight more. They’ve got a network, a user base, and a simple truth on their side: people need to get from point A to point B. It’s a reliable business, much like a good stagecoach line. Not glamorous, perhaps, but dependable. And in my experience, dependability is worth more than a heap of promises.

Mr. Khosrowshahi rightly believes that we’ll likely see a mix of both – self-driving vehicles and those with a flesh-and-blood driver. Demand fluctuates, you see. Folks want a ride when they want a ride, and a sensible company prepares for that. It’s a bit like running a livery stable – you need both horses and drivers to keep things running smoothly.

Now, I’m not saying Tesla is a bad company. They’ve built some impressive machines. But a wise investor always looks for a company that generates actual profits, not just potential ones. A bird in the hand, as they say, is worth two in the bush. Uber, with its steady growth and practical approach, seems to be building a solid foundation. It may not reach for the moon, but it’s likely to stay on the road for a good long while. And that, my friends, is a sight more comforting to a dividend hunter like myself.

2026-02-22 19:32

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