Tesla's vehicle sales outlook has darkened despite Elon Musk's optimism about autonomous driving technology. While investors have been buoyed by Musk's pronouncements on AI and robotics, actual car sales appear to have declined in the latter half of last year. Analysts predict significantly lower delivery numbers for 2026 compared to previous estimates, raising questions about the company's near-term financial performance and ability to maintain investor confidence amidst growing headwinds.