Tesla Begins Cybercab Rides in Austin as US Safety Agency Reviews Driverless Vehicle Launch

Post by : Saif

Tesla has begun offering limited rides in its new Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas, marking a major step in the company's push toward fully autonomous transportation.

The two-seat electric Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, making it different from conventional vehicles and raising regulatory questions in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is in contact with Tesla and is evaluating the company's latest activity.

Tesla Launches Limited Cybercab Service

Tesla said Cybercab rides are currently available only in selected areas of Austin. The company has not announced when passengers will begin paying fares, although executives indicated that the service could use dynamic pricing based on demand.

Tesla AI Chief Ashok Elluswamy said the service is open to the public, attracting Tesla investors, fans and social media personalities who shared videos of the new vehicles.

The Cybercab features a two-seat design and distinctive butterfly-style doors. Tesla intends to eventually make the vehicle a central part of a larger autonomous robotaxi network.

NHTSA Evaluates Tesla's Driverless Vehicles

The launch has attracted attention from US federal safety regulators because Cybercab vehicles are designed without traditional human driving controls.

Federal safety rules generally require vehicles to have human controls, while current regulations limit the number of vehicles manufacturers can sell without steering wheels and pedals. Manufacturers can deploy larger numbers of such vehicles for testing under certain conditions.

NHTSA confirmed that it is communicating with Tesla and reviewing the situation but did not provide additional details.

Autonomous Driving Key to Tesla's Future

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has described autonomous vehicles as essential to the company's future. The Cybercab is intended to become Tesla's main purpose-built driverless vehicle.

Tesla already operates a limited robotaxi service using autonomous Model Y vehicles, with some vehicles operating with human safety monitors.

The company began its Austin robotaxi pilot in June 2025 and has since expanded the service to several other cities in Texas and Florida.

Read more: European Car Sales Rise as Electric Vehicles Gain Strong Momentum in October

Regulatory Barriers Remain

Tesla's expansion plans face significant regulatory challenges. In California, one of the company's important markets, Tesla does not currently have permits to operate a robotaxi service or test driverless vehicles without a safety driver capable of taking control.

The company has also scaled back some of its earlier aggressive predictions about the speed of autonomous vehicle deployment, with executives now emphasizing a more cautious approach focused on safety.

Real-World Testing Reveals Service Problems

Earlier testing of Tesla's robotaxi service in Dallas and Houston found operational limitations, including long waiting times and periods when no vehicles were available.

In several Dallas rides, a robotaxi reportedly failed to take a passenger directly to a downtown destination within Tesla's advertised service area, instead leaving the passenger around a 15-minute walk from the destination.

The findings highlight the challenges Tesla faces as it attempts to move autonomous vehicles from limited testing toward a large-scale commercial network.

Tesla and Waymo Fleets in Texas

Texas state records showed Tesla had 420 autonomous vehicles registered in the state as of Wednesday evening, including 45 Cybercab vehicles.

Waymo, the current US leader in driverless taxi services, had 988 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas.

Tesla's investors increasingly view robotaxis and autonomous driving as important to the company's future, particularly as competition in the electric vehicle market intensifies.

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