Tesla’s Cybercab, the pinnacle of the company’s future, has been officially revealed and put to the test in the streets of Austin. Instantly, the first problem arose: Washington isn’t convinced it’s legal.
Tesla has officially put its purpose-built Cybercab robotaxi into commercial service in Austin, Texas. The company kicks off a new chapter in its long-delayed autonomy ambitions, on which Elon Musk has been promising with big fanfare already for ten years.
The launch took place at a closed-door event in downtown Austin, notably without the livestream spectacle Musk usually loves.
Exactly like the concept
The vehicle itself is exactly what was promised two years ago: a compact, coupe-shaped pod painted in metallic gold—the interior features no steering wheel, no pedals, and no mirrors.
To get in there, the butterfly doors open into the cabin, which has a place for two passengers. The trunk swallows two checked bags plus two carry-ons.
Musk described it on X as “simply a comfortable living room on wheels with a great TV and excellent sound.” To hail a ride with the Cybercab, the age limit is 13 years.
The technical details, like the record-breaking consumption, were already released two months ago. Newmobility.news reported on these here.
125,000 units annually
Tesla first revealed the Cybercab in a flashy event back in 2024, promising production before 2027 – a timeline that held up in this case. For months, social media feeds filled with sightings of prototypes parked in Austin lots and cruising local streets.
The company laid the groundwork one year later, when it began running robotaxi services using ordinary Model Y SUVs fitted with its Full Self-Driving software. That pilot, which took a bumpy road, expanded in a later phase to Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco.
With the official unveiling, the dedicated hardware has arrived. The Cybercab will roll off the line at Tesla’s Austin factory, where Musk claims he can build 125,000 units annually. But immediately after the reveal, officials were already scrutinizing the legal compliance.
Ringing the alarm bell
Less than a day after the first paying rides began, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s self-certification of the Cybercab.
Unlike in Europe, car makers in the US don’t have to obtain official homologation before launch. But their compliance can be checked afterward.
The problem is that Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the U.S. currently mandate a steering wheel and pedals for any commercially operated vehicle.
Waymo’s vehicles still have these. The only workaround is an official exemption, which the Amazon-backed robotaxi firm Zoox recently secured. Tesla, according to NHTSA sources, never filed for one.
The agency wants to know precisely what technical data Tesla used to declare its wheel-less pod compliant with federal safety rules. NHTSA is reviewing broader regulatory updates to accommodate autonomous vehicles, but has warned: “Until that work is completed, existing standards remain in force.”
Under ten dollars
If the NHTSA deems the Cybercab doesn’t comply with its rules, a temporary shutdown could be imposed before Tesla obtains an officially granted exemption. This would effectively delay the announced roll-out in other American cities.
Right now, the Cybercab operates within a tightly restricted zone around Tesla’s Austin headquarters. The company says it will gradually expand to more vehicles and locations, starting with Phoenix and Las Vegas.
And what does it cost to be chauffeured around Austin in a Cybercab? Early reports suggest a ride runs about $9.65, while a Model Y robotaxi, which can transport four people, costs around $16.99. Both undercut Uber, which charges about $21 for a similar trip, including the inevitable American tip.
