Tesla starts public-road tests of production Cybercab in Austin

Tesla began public-road testing of its production Cybercab - a purpose-built two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals - on Austin, Texas streets in late June, the first time the dedicated vehicle has driven in live traffic rather than a retrofitted Model Y. The cars are running as engineering test vehicles with a safety monitor in the passenger seat, relying entirely on cameras and onboard AI rather than the radar and lidar used by rival Waymo. Tesla is targeting paid Cybercab rides in Austin before the end of 2026.