On September 3, Tesla held a presentation in Austin, Texas, unveiling the Cybercab and simultaneously opening public access to rides in the driverless two-seater vehicles, which lack steering wheels and pedals. The cars are available through the Robotaxi service in select areas of the city.
The future has arrived in Austin pic.twitter.com/RTCb0O5sez
— Tesla (@Tesla) September 3, 2026
The company had been promoting the event for several weeks as the official launch of the Cybercab. During the event, company executives discussed plans for pricing, production, and technology development.
Ashok Elluswamy, head of Tesla’s AI division, stated that the service is now available to anyone interested.
The Cybercab is assigned automatically based on vehicle availability and passenger numbers—choosing it over the Model Y is not yet an option. Tesla plans to use dynamic pricing but has not disclosed specific rates.
45 Cybercabs Registered in Texas
According to state authorities, Tesla registered 420 autonomous vehicles in Texas at launch, including 45 Cybercabs. In comparison, Waymo had 988 vehicles in the state.
Tesla began producing the Cybercab in April 2026. The model was first introduced in October 2024 as a specially designed robotaxi with two “gull-wing” doors, wireless charging, and no manual control instruments.
Company founder Elon Musk has stated that the Cybercab will eventually become Tesla’s most mass-produced model and the foundation of a global robotaxi network. At the 2024 presentation, he mentioned a target price below $30,000, but the company did not announce a price for buyers at the current launch.
Tesla Opens Cybercab Sales to Third-Party Operators
Simultaneously, the company opened a form for companies and entrepreneurs interested in purchasing individual Cybercabs or entire fleets for commercial use. Other collaboration options include creating infrastructure and mobile hubs.
Previously, Tesla primarily developed its own robotaxi fleet. TechCrunch noted that the new form indicates the possibility of involving third-party operators to scale the network more quickly. Specific terms for purchasing and managing such fleets have not been disclosed.
Currently, the Robotaxi service with the Model Y operates in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, as well as in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.
Launch Attracts Regulator’s Attention
On September 4, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation into nearly 1,000 Cybercabs, reports Reuters.
The regulator will examine the basis on which Tesla deemed the model compliant with federal safety standards, despite the lack of permanently installed steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors.
Federal rules restrict the commercial sale of vehicles without traditional control instruments. However, manufacturers can use them for testing without such a quantitative limit.
In California, Tesla also does not yet have permits for the commercial operation of robotaxis or testing fully driverless vehicles without a safety driver.
In June 2025, Tesla launched its first Robotaxi rides in Austin using the Model Y. Initially, access was granted to limited user groups, with an employee present to monitor the situation.
In December of the same year, the company began testing robotaxis without an in-car controller.
