Tesla officially launched the two-seat robo-taxi "Cybercab," which has no steering wheel or pedals, and began service in Austin on the 3rd (local time).
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Business Insider on the day, Tesla held a private event in Austin, Texas, to mark the launch of the Cybercab. It comes about two years after a prototype was unveiled in Oct. 2024. Tesla registered 45 Cybercabs in Texas.
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's vice president in charge of artificial intelligence (AI), said, "The Cybercab has been officially added to the robo-taxi app, which previously had only the Tesla Model Y," and noted, "It is open to all citizens." Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer (CEO), also posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) of the Cybercab appearing while kicking up a sandstorm in Austin, along with the phrase "Cybercab storm."
The Cybercab is a two-seat electric vehicle with a golden exterior and "butterfly doors" that open upward. It has no steering wheel or accelerator and brake pedals at all. While other robo-taxis use modified passenger cars, the Cybercab was developed from the design stage as a dedicated Autonomous Driving vehicle.
Because it does not need systems required for driving, its curb weight is only 1,400 kg. That makes it the lightest among Tesla vehicles. Maximum output is 219 horsepower.
A video released by Tesla shows the system is simple to use. After entering a destination in the Tesla robo-taxi app, users check available vehicles and make a reservation. When the vehicle arrives, they get in; if they have luggage, they can open the trunk through the app. The doors open automatically when a passenger approaches, but they can also be opened by pressing a button. Temperature and seating can all be adjusted via the in-vehicle display or the app, and after arrival, pressing a button on the display opens the doors.
CEO Musk said the Cybercab is a low-cost robo-taxi solution that can be mass-produced, presenting a price under $30,000 (about 40 million won). He also unveiled a plan to sell Cybercabs directly to consumers, not just for taxi use. Tesla currently has manufacturing facilities capable of producing more than 125,000 Cybercabs annually.
However, it must clear regulatory hurdles for general sales. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allows automakers to sell vehicles that do not fully comply with regulations under an exemption, but that is limited to 2,500 units per year. According to the WSJ, Tesla has not yet applied to the NHTSA for an exemption for the Cybercab.