Tesla launches driverless Cybercab rides for Austin customers

Tesla launched its Cybercab service in Austin on Thursday, starting paid customer rides in a purpose-built, driverless two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals through the company’s Robotaxi app.

The launch will represent the very first time Tesla’s specially built autonomous vehicle will take paying passengers, and brings Elon Musk’s long-promised robotaxi service vision into operation in a real-life scenario.

Autonomous gold two-seater launched in Texas

The launch took place at an invite-only event in Austin, where Tesla gave a select group of influencers and loyal customers the first rides in its Cybercabs. Axios described the vehicle as a gold-painted model featuring gull-wing doors, with no conventional mirrors, steering wheel or pedals.

Tesla is positioning the Cybercab’s interior as more than just a space for transportation, with entertainment built into the passenger experience. A promotional video released by the company showcased theater, music and gaming apps accessible via a 22-inch touchscreen. Tesla also claimed future models would be equipped with V5 Starlink hardware to ensure full connectivity.

Robotaxi customers will be able to book Cybercab rides via Tesla’s dedicated ride-hailing app, with ordering processes designed very similarly to order ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft or Waymo.

Wait will be long for Robotaxi goals

Texas has registered just 45 Cybercabs so far, a tiny fraction of the 420 robotaxis Tesla has in operation across the state. Most of those vehicles are conventional Model Y cars equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving software, meaning the majority of customers requesting a ride will not yet be picked up in the new steering-wheel-free Cybercab.

The company has built production capacity for up to 125,000 Cybercabs annually, while Musk has said Tesla ultimately plans to produce the vehicles at a scale of millions. The gap between the CEO’s vision and reality remains very wide, however.

A regulatory fight Tesla has to overcome

Reaching the targeted Cybercab production levels could present Tesla with regulatory challenges at the federal level. Tesla appears willing to certify the Cybercab as compliant with existing regulations instead of attempting to seek an exemption from safety requirements that the unconventional vehicle design may not meet.

The approach could help Tesla avoid any production limits associated with the exemption process, which would give the company much greater flexibility to increase Cybercab manufacturing significantly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which does not pre-approve vehicles or new technology, has said Tesla has filed a no exemption request and that the agency “is in touch with the company and is monitoring the situation.”

Tesla is also seeking outside investment to expand its robotaxi network. On Thursday, the company opened an application form inviting individuals and entrepreneurs to purchase Cybercab fleets for commercial use or develop the hubs and infrastructure needed to service them, under the pitch, “Help us build our Robotaxi network.”

The vehicles, however, are not yet available for purchase by the general public.