Tesla debuts Cybercab autonomous rides
Tesla has deployed its first fleet of Cybercabs- the company's highly anticipated robotaxi, which operates completely without a steering wheel or pedals. In Austin, Texas, Tesla is now allowed to use the all-electric two-seaters for its driverless ride-hailing service.
Yesterday’s event in Austin was unusual for Tesla: there was no livestream, no press representatives were invited, and CEO Elon Musk was reportedly not in attendance. Instead, only regular customers and a few tech influencers were present, and their accounts now form the basis for reporting on the event.
The focus of the event in the southern US was the Cybercab, which Tesla unveiled in Hollywood in October 2024. The Cybercab is a fully electric two-seater—its gullwing doors provide access to a relatively compact interior, with a solid partition wall behind the two seats. Pre-series production began in February 2026, followed by series production in April at Giga Texas, also located in Austin.
Booking via Robotaxi app
With the launch event, Tesla has opened the Cybercab to public use – and these first series-produced Cybercabs are set to enter regular service on Austin’s streets. In the Texan city, Cybercab rides can now be booked via Tesla’s dedicated Robotaxi app. Tesla has already been offering autonomous robotaxi rides in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando and Tampa—but until now, only converted Tesla Model Y units were used, not the Cybercab itself.
However, neither the Model Ys nor the Cybercab currently operate fully autonomously. For example, the Model Ys in Austin were initially driven with a safety driver on board until Tesla moved the emergency controls to accompanying vehicles, creating the impression of a fully autonomous ride for passengers. Additionally, like competitors Waymo and Zoox, Tesla must operate a command centre for its robotaxis, from which staff can remotely intervene if the software struggles with certain driving situations or makes errors.
This video provides impressions from the Cybercab launch event and a first test ride with the two-seater robotaxi:
Currently, the Cybercab fleet in Austin remains relatively small. Tesla currently has approval to operate 45 units of the dedicated robotaxis in Texas. However, if the rides proceed without incidents, the Texas transportation authority is likely to approve additional vehicles sooner or later.
The rides are designed to offer passengers significant comfort, allowing them to enjoy quality time in the Cybercab. With apps for entertainment, music and gaming on a 22-inch touchscreen, the Cybercab provides space to be productive or relax, the company states – and plans to equip the vehicles with V5 Starlink hardware for “seamless connectivity.” As CEO Elon Musk put it on X: “Cybercab is basically a super comfortable lounge on wheels with a great TV and epic sound.”