Tesla Unveils Driverless Cybercab in Austin, Shares Up 5.42%

On September 3, Tesla held an event in Austin, Texas, to unveil the Cybercab, a ride-hailing model designed exclusively for autonomous driving. The vehicle features a matte gold finish and butterfly-wing doors, with no steering wheel, pedals, or rearview mirrors. The cabin consists of two bench-style seats and a central touchscreen. The car relies on eight high-definition cameras for 360-degree environmental perception, operates on an end-to-end neural network, and is equipped with Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. Tesla said the Cybercab's target price is under $30,000.

Tesla's official website has updated its Cybercab Occupant Guide. According to the site, the Cybercab's passenger service is currently available only in a limited area of Austin, Texas. In Tampa and Miami, Florida, as well as Dallas and Houston, Texas, the Robotaxi fleet currently operates using modified Model Y vehicles. The updated Robotaxi service terms state that children under 8 are not allowed to ride in the Model Y Robotaxi, and children under 13 are strictly prohibited from riding in the Cybercab. The Cybercab does not offer LATCH/ISOFIX child seat hard-point connections, relying only on seat belts for child seat installation.

Data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shows that as of September 3, Tesla had 420 autonomous vehicles registered in the state, including 45 Cybercabs and approximately 375 Robotaxi Model Ys. Among autonomous vehicles registered in Texas, Waymo has 988 and Avride has 344. Nevada regulators have approved Tesla to deploy up to 5,000 Robotaxis over the next 12 months.

According to Tesla's disclosed data, the Cybercab's estimated efficiency is 9.8 kilometers per kilowatt-hour, equivalent to about 10.2 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. The vehicle has a curb weight of 1,412 kilograms, a 47.6 kilowatt-hour battery pack, and a single 163-kilowatt motor, with a laboratory-cycle range of 673 kilometers. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory filings show the vehicle's range at approximately 300 miles (about 483 kilometers).

The Cybercab was first shown as a concept at Tesla's "We, Robot" event in October 2024. The first production unit rolled off the line at the Texas Gigafactory in February 2026, with full production starting in April and public road testing beginning in June. The Cybercab uses a "unboxed" manufacturing process, producing subassemblies in parallel before final assembly to improve efficiency. Tesla's Robotaxi pilot service began in Austin in June 2025 and later expanded to other Texas cities and parts of Florida.

Tesla's Robotaxi fleet currently runs an early test version of FSD V15. Tesla said that starting in mid-September, the Cybercab will be displayed in several cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. The display aims to showcase the product's design and technology concepts and does not involve the Cybercab's launch or sales in China, nor any commercial autonomous ride-hailing operations there.