Tesla launches self-driving ‘Cybercab’ in Texas

In Austin, Texas, Tesla unveiled its self-driving robotaxi, known as the Cybercab, on Thursday, aiming to rival competitors like Uber and Waymo. The gold-colored vehicle, unveiled in October 2024, features no pedals or steering wheel and is designed for driverless taxi services. CEO Elon Musk shared an image of a Cybercab in Austin, the city where Tesla is based, on social media.

Cybercabs have been spotted in the streets of Austin prior to the event, with passengers now able to choose the new vehicle through Tesla's updated app. Graham Sprigg, a tourist from Australia, expressed his excitement, stating that the Cybercab would revolutionize transportation by transitioning from owning a personal car to accessing transportation as a service.

The Tesla Cybercab event in Austin was invite-only, with attendees being the first to experience the driverless rides. These vehicles will be available to the public starting Friday. Tesla emphasized the safety and convenience of the Cybercab, highlighting its potential to "democratize clean transportation for all." The Cybercab rollout follows Tesla's previous introduction of self-driving cars in Austin using Model Y SUVs last year.

However, state regulations require many of these vehicles to have a human supervisor or driver on standby in case of emergencies. As of Wednesday, Tesla had registered 314 robotaxis in Texas, including 45 Cybercabs. Analyst Itay Michaeli from TD Securities anticipates a gradual rollout of the Cybercab, similar to the initial rollout of the Robotaxi, considering feedback from early users before expanding the service.

Despite Texas's favorable regulations for autonomous vehicles, Tesla's long-term success in the competitive autonomous vehicle taxi market remains uncertain, according to Anthony Townsend, a senior research associate at Cornell Tech.