Tesla is one step closer to the public launch of its Cybercab ride-hailing service: Employees at the Texas Gigafactory will soon be able to take their first rides in the steering-wheel- and pedal-less robotaxis. More than 100 of the gold-colored vehicles are already on hand at the factory grounds.
Announcement via Tesla’s Robotaxi Account
The news was shared via Tesla’s Robotaxi account on X, accompanied by a short video showing a gold Cybercab without a steering wheel or pedals driving around the Giga Texas campus. Shortly afterward, Tesla’s main account also shared the announcement: Cybercab rides for employees at Giga Texas are set to begin soon. “Eric,” the developer at Tesla responsible for Cybercab and robotaxis, also stated that he had already completed 50 rides in the past few days—without ever wanting to get out.
Unanswered Questions About the Scope of the Service
It remains unclear whether Tesla plans to offer a regular shuttle service across the sprawling factory grounds or merely short demonstration rides in the parking lot. It is also not yet certain whether the Cybercab will actually become the officially announced ride-hailing service. As a two-door vehicle with no manual controls whatsoever, it differs significantly from Tesla’s existing fleet of Model Y robotaxis in Austin, which still feature traditional controls. Consequently, if the autonomous driving software fails, no human can intervene in the Cybercab.
Regulations Are Easing, but Software Remains a Work in Progress
Tesla itself acknowledges that the autonomous driving software still needs a fundamental overhaul before companies, authorities, and the public are likely to have sufficient confidence in unsupervised operation on public roads—an issue that is not new, given Tesla’s previous admissions regarding hardware limitations. On the regulatory front, however, there is a tailwind: NHTSA Administrator Jonathon Morrison told CNBC shortly before Tesla’s announcement that the agency would push to eliminate the steering wheel requirement for vehicles that are never intended to be driven by a human. Previously, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had already lifted the requirement for brake pedals in autonomous vehicles.
Over 100 Vehicles Already Ready for Service
According to reports, more than 100 Cybercabs are currently on standby in a parking lot at Giga Texas. Tesla states that neither hardware nor regulatory requirements are the final hurdle to commercial deployment—rather, the software must be further optimized to reliably ensure the safety of passengers and pedestrians.
Sources
CNBC, Tesla Robotaxi (X), Tesla (X)
