Tesla Cybercab Launch Draws NHTSA Review in Austin

Tesla sent dozens of Cybercabs onto the streets of Austin, Texas, on September 3 and began carrying passengers within a limited service area. The gold two-seat taxi has no steering wheel or brake pedal, leaving passengers without a direct way to take control in an emergency.

The Austin deployment was not the beginning of Tesla’s Robotaxi service. The company had already been using Model Y vehicles in limited ride-hailing operations in Texas and Florida, with safety monitors still present in some cars. The September 3 launch introduced the first production vehicles designed solely for autonomous driving. Tesla’s website says passengers book through a dedicated app and that Cybercab rides are currently available only in parts of Austin.

Texas registration data dated September 2 showed 420 autonomous vehicles registered to Tesla, including 45 Cybercabs. Waymo had 988 vehicles registered in the state. Tesla relies on cameras to perceive the road; Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox supplement cameras with radar and lidar. Tesla does not hold permits to operate a robotaxi service in California or test without a safety driver.

Elon Musk called Cybercab the first car built specifically for “unsupervised full self-driving.” Tesla began production in April, though Musk warned at the time that initial output would be very slow. The company has not set a date for paid service. Executives at the launch said fares would eventually use dynamic pricing that rises with demand.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a review the following day. The agency will examine whether a vehicle without a steering wheel, mirrors or brake pedals complies with federal safety standards and audit the process and technical data behind Tesla’s self-certification. Tesla did not respond to media requests for comment.

Tesla shares closed down 5.9% at $354.08 on September 4, erasing the stock’s gain of more than 5% on launch day.