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| Tesla Cybercab driving on public streets. |
In a quiet but significant move, Tesla has taken its radical driverless Cybercab—the futuristic two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals—out of the factory lot and onto public roads for the very first time.
The autonomous vehicle was recently spotted navigating downtown Austin, Texas, the same city where Tesla quietly launched its Robotaxi ride-hailing service earlier this year. For now, that service has been running with modified Model Y vehicles, using Tesla’s latest FSD 14 “Unsupervised” software. But as company CEO Elon Musk has hinted, 2026 is slated to be a big year: Tesla plans to expand the Robotaxi fleet to include not only newer customer-owned vehicles but also its purpose-built Cybercab.
From Factory Grounds to City Streets
Until now, the Cybercab has been rigorously tested behind the gates of Tesla facilities. Engineers have also equipped standard Model 3 sedans with the Cybercab’s autonomous hardware and software to gather real-world data. But sending the actual production-intent Cybercab into live traffic marks a major step in Tesla’s driverless ambitions.
Witnesses in Austin reported seeing the compact, angular vehicle moving through urban blocks, though it remains unclear whether a safety operator was inside. Given the historic nature of the drive—and the fact that the vehicle lacks any manual controls—it’s highly likely a Tesla engineer was on board, if only in a monitoring role.
How the Robotaxi Ecosystem Is Shaping Up
Tesla’s current Robotaxi pilots are using Model Y crossovers running a specialized branch of Full Self-Driving software, which the company could secure permitting for first. This allows Tesla to refine its ride-share app, mapping, and payment systems with a more conventional vehicle before introducing the Cybercab.
Image shared on social media shows the Cybercab navigating an Austin street.
Musk has confirmed that in 2026, eligible Tesla owners will be able to add their vehicles to the Robotaxi network—though there’s a catch. Only cars equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4) and later will qualify, as older HW3 systems lack the computing power and camera suite needed for truly unsupervised FSD. Owners of those vehicles may get a limited “FSD 14 Lite” version, but they won’t be able to join the commercial fleet.
The Cybercab, however, is built from the ground up with Tesla’s latest AI4 hardware, designed to handle fully driverless operation from day one.
No Wheel, No Pedals—What Happens in an Emergency?
One of the most striking aspects of the Cybercab is its complete absence of manual controls. During demonstrations, Tesla has used a game controller to maneuver the vehicle indoors, but that’s not an option on public roads. That means during these early tests, the vehicle must rely entirely on its sensors and software to handle complex traffic situations, with no immediate human takeover possible.
It’s a bold move, and one that regulators, competitors, and the public will be watching closely. Tesla’s confidence to test it in a bustling downtown core suggests the company believes its system is ready for increasingly challenging environments.
Charging, Cleaning, and the Future of Mobility
Tesla has billed the Cybercab as a fully integrated mobility solution—self-driving, self-cleaning, and capable of automated charging. While those latter features weren’t on display during this Austin drive, the vision is clear: a fleet of autonomous vehicles that operate with minimal human intervention.
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What’s next for the Cybercab? Tesla will likely expand testing to more cities as it gathers data, refining the system ahead of its planned 2026 rollout. If successful, these small two-seaters could redefine not just ride-hailing, but urban transportation itself—no steering wheel required.
