The public debut is close
Almost two years have passed since Tesla introduced its autonomous Cybercab. Now the company is preparing for the public launch of this electric vehicle as part of its existing robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.
In recent months, Tesla has tested the Cybercab on public roads, but until now no outside passenger has been able to use this driverless car. Last month, the company allowed employees to test the Cybercab on private roads near its headquarters in Austin.
It is worth mentioning that engineers made the car quite light: the Cybercab weighs almost 700 pounds less than the lightest version of the Model 3.
According to The Information, after tests among employees, the public launch of the Cybercab is scheduled for the second half of this month. Before receiving permission to integrate the new electric vehicle into the robotaxi service, Tesla conducted training with Austin emergency services. Particular attention was paid to how rescuers should act in incidents involving the Cybercab.
This week, Tesla hinted that the Cybercab would soon join its fleet. The company announced that everyone who uses the current robotaxi fleet by August 23 will be entered into a drawing for invitations to the launch. The more trips a user takes, the higher their chances of receiving an invitation. Whether such an invitation includes an actual ride in the Cybercab is still unknown.
Still a small robotaxi fleet
Adding the Cybercab to the driverless taxi service in Austin will be a big step for Tesla. However, it is important to understand that the service itself remains rather modest and has not yet grown to the level Elon Musk promised. Only 186 Model Ys are currently registered in the company’s Austin fleet. Cybercab production in Texas started back in July, but series production volumes should not be expected before next year. Therefore, it is unlikely that a large number of such vehicles will be added to the fleet in the coming months.
What about the steering wheel and pedals
The latest Cybercab prototypes have been spotted both with a steering wheel and pedals and completely without them. There is still no official information about whether the first cars entering the fleet will have traditional controls or whether Tesla will decide to do without them. If the report about the imminent launch turns out to be accurate, the wait for an answer will not be long.
What to expect from the launch
Even if the Cybercab appears in Austin this month, there will be no large-scale expansion of the service anytime soon. The current 186 Model Ys are very far from Tesla’s ambitious plans for millions of robotaxis. The Cybercab launch is rather symbolic: the company is finally moving from prototypes to real passenger operation of a car that may not have a steering wheel.
At the same time, many open questions remain: regulatory approvals, ride costs, infrastructure readiness, and the car’s behavior in unusual traffic situations. The success of this stage in Austin will be an important signal for other cities where Tesla plans to launch its own robotaxis. In addition, competition in the autonomous ride-hailing market is intensifying, so Tesla needs not only to present the technology but also to prove its reliability in real operating conditions.