Investing.com -- Morgan Stanley analysts see Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) as a key player in the transformation of U.S. manufacturing, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into physical production.
The firm describes Tesla as “one of the most diversified expressions of physical AI,” highlighting its role in the evolving relationship between data, software, hardware, and manufacturing.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) notes that AI is shifting from the digital realm into the physical economy, fundamentally reshaping industrial production. As AI and electric machinery merge, the importance—and vulnerabilities—of U.S. manufacturing are coming under scrutiny.
“GenAI’s journey from the knowledge economy to the physical economy will require profound changes to the United States' posture on manufacturing,” Morgan Stanley wrote, adding that these shifts create both investment opportunities and risks.
Tesla, according to the firm, stands at the center of this transformation. “Data is defining the software. Software (ETR:SOWGn) is defining the hardware. Hardware is defining the manufacturing,” Morgan Stanley stated, predicting that in the near future, machines will be designed, supplied, and manufactured in ways that “may bear precious little resemblance to the legacy we experience today.”
The firm also points to structural tailwinds for U.S. manufacturing, particularly as AI advancements drive down costs and spur renewed investment. After decades of underinvestment, Morgan Stanley sees an opportunity for growth in the sector.
Despite Tesla’s nearly 20% year-to-date stock decline, Morgan Stanley remains bullish on the company’s long-term prospects, reiterating its Overweight rating with a $430 price target and an $800 bull-case valuation.
The firm describes Tesla as an “anchor tenant” in its Humanoid 100 framework, a concept focused on companies leading the intersection of AI and manufacturing.