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Tesla begins Cybercab rides in Austin as US safety agency evaluates effort

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Tesla said members of the public could take limited rides in its two-seat Cybercab in parts of Austin, Texas.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was in contact with Tesla and evaluating the activity, as federal rules typically require human controls.
  • The launch supports Tesla’s broader robotaxi ambitions, although the company has not said when it will begin charging fares.

Tesla has begun offering public rides in a car with no steering wheel or pedals, giving Austin a limited first look at the company’s Cybercab while attracting the attention of the U.S. auto safety regulator.

The two-seat electric vehicle is available only in parts of Austin, Tesla said. The company did not say when it would start charging passengers. Executives presenting the vehicle described plans for demand-based pricing, with fares rising as demand increases, while promising “a first-class experience at coach price.”

NHTSA is in contact with Tesla and is evaluating the situation.

· National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spokespersonThe agency described its response to Tesla’s Cybercab rides.

Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s head of artificial intelligence and one of the event’s presenters, said the service was open to anyone. “It’s open to the entire public,” he said. Tesla investors and social media personalities posted videos of rides in the gold-colored cars, which feature butterfly doors. The event also displayed at least one partly manufactured Cybercab.

A first-class experience at coach price.

· Tesla executivesExecutives described the planned customer experience and pricing approach.

CEO Elon Musk did not attend, according to people at the event. Executive remarks on pricing, manufacturing and technology lasted about 15 minutes, according to videos posted afterward. Musk has promoted driverless Teslas for years, including at a Cybercab unveiling near Los Angeles in October 2024, but the company’s robotaxi rollout has not met his targets. Analysts have also recently pointed to slower-than-expected growth.

Tesla currently operates a limited robotaxi service using autonomous Model Ys, some with human safety monitors. The company plans to make the Cybercab its main driverless vehicle within a larger network. That goal brings regulatory questions because federal safety standards generally require human controls. “NHTSA is in contact with Tesla and is evaluating the situation,” an agency spokesperson said.

It’s open to the entire public.

· Ashok ElluswamyTesla’s AI chief said anyone could take a Cybercab ride.

Tesla launched a robotaxi pilot in Austin in June 2025 and later expanded it to several other cities in Texas and Florida. Investors and analysts view driverless vehicles as central to Tesla’s future and to its $1.4 trillion market valuation. In a video released Thursday, Musk called the Cybercab “the first car that is specifically built for unsupervised full self-driving.”

The first car that is specifically built for unsupervised full self-driving.

· Elon MuskMusk described the Cybercab in a video released during the launch.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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