Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi has been spotted for the first time in Buffalo, New York, conducting cold-weather tests amid mid-30s temperatures. The vehicle, previously limited to low-speed urban trials in Austin, is now navigating highways at higher speeds. This expansion signals accelerating validation ahead of production starting in April 2026.
Tesla's dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab, marked a milestone with its debut in cold-weather testing in Buffalo, New York, on January 10, 2026. Videos shared by enthusiast Ty Thomson and reported by Sawyer Merritt captured the two-seat, all-electric vehicle on local roads, where temperatures hovered in the mid-30s Fahrenheit. Buffalo's potential for upcoming snow could provide further testing opportunities for components like charging efficiency and performance in low temperatures.
Prior to this, Cybercab sightings were mostly confined to Austin, Texas, including low-speed drives in downtown areas and closed tracks at Giga Texas. Recent footage from Austin's MoPac expressway, shared by @herbertong, showed the vehicle cruising at highway speeds for the first time, highlighting its aerodynamic stability and quiet cabin amid wind noise and vibrations. At least eight Cybercabs are now active on public roads across Austin, the Bay Area, and Buffalo, indicating a shift from early alpha testing to robust validation.
The Cybercab features a Cybertruck-inspired steering wheel with steer-by-wire functionality and side mirrors to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) during testing. A 21-inch center console display was also visible, promising enhanced entertainment for passengers. Tesla's official Cybertruck account responded to online praise with a humorous note: "That’s mine. I let @robotaxi borrow since it won’t need it for long." This underscores the temporary nature of human controls; production models will lack steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors, relying fully on Full Self-Driving (FSD) for autonomous operation.
These developments align with Elon Musk's timeline: volume production begins in April 2026, with Cybercabs operating autonomously on public roads by year's end. The testing surge, including cross-country travel 1,500 miles from Austin, reflects Tesla's push toward a robotaxi network where owners can add vehicles to the fleet.
