Elon Musk announced that Tesla's Cybercab production will begin in April, sparking confusion with the company's existing robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. The Cybercab is a steering-wheel-free vehicle unveiled in 2024, distinct from the supervised Model Y robotaxis currently operating. Musk's interchangeable use of terms has fueled online debates about the vehicles' readiness and safety.
Elon Musk tweeted on February 16 that the Cybercab, which has no pedals or steering wheel, starts production in April. The following day, Tesla shared a photo of the first Cybercab off the production line, which garnered over 43 million views but showed the vehicle obscured among workers, leading to speculation about design changes. During a January earnings call, Musk stated, “There’s no full back mechanism here. It’s like this car either drives itself or it does not drive.”
The Cybercab differs from Tesla's robotaxis, which are standard Model Y vehicles equipped with steering wheels, pedals, and human minders, as well as remote operators. These robotaxis operate using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software under supervised conditions, per a February 13 regulatory filing to the California Public Utilities Commission. The Austin experiment has reported crashes at a rate four times higher than human drivers, according to Electrek, contrasting with Waymo's lower collision rates at Level 4 automation. Tesla's system is classified as supervised Level 2, requiring human intervention, unlike fully autonomous operations.
Confusion arose from Musk's October 2024 unveiling at Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California, where he used 'robotaxi' and 'Cybercab' interchangeably. The event featured the Cybercab concept, a Robovan, and remotely controlled Optimus robots. The Cybercab design includes no rear window, no side mirrors, and only two seats. Ownership details remain unclear, with options to buy, lease, or join the Tesla robotaxi network for ridesharing.
Musk has promised a $30,000 price since 2024, though past products like the Cybertruck exceeded initial estimates. Regulatory hurdles persist, including local government approvals and naming restrictions, prompting trademark filings for terms like Cybervehicle and Cybercar. Tesla operates under supervised systems while marketing as autonomous, drawing criticism for the discrepancy.
