The Tesla Cybercab is now available to passengers in Austin, Texas, marking the first time customers, rather than just employees and early testers, can travel in the fully autonomous vehicle via the Robotaxi app. Shortly after the launch on Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed it was investigating the rollout.
Elon Musk first unveiled the Cybercab in October 2024, stating the vehicle would enter production “before 2027”. Manufacturing began in April 2026, though Musk noted that scaling would be “very slow” owing to supply chain and validation timelines. Tesla’s robotaxi service initially launched with Model Y vehicles in Austin, with the long-term aim of making the Cybercab the primary autonomous vehicle across its network. There are currently 45 Cybercabs operating commercially in Texas.
Unlike robotaxis from Alphabet-owned Waymo, the current leader in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, the Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals. It shares that design with Amazon-owned Zoox, which has deployed its purpose-built robotaxis in a handful of cities.
Why the Federal Investigation Was Launched
The Cybercab’s absence of manual controls prompted the NHTSA probe, with the agency specifically citing the lack of “a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel and mirrors” in its filing. Because Tesla self-certified the vehicle, the regulator now plans to “examine the process and technical data on which Tesla relied when certifying the Cybercab and related issues”. Earlier this year, the NHTSA said it was exploring the removal of the requirement for manual controls in autonomous vehicles.
“NHTSA fully supports the safe development and deployment of automated vehicles. But as the federal regulator, we need to ensure that all of our laws are followed,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison in a statement on Friday. “Our approach of balancing innovation with safety oversight will allow the United States to maintain its global leadership in AV innovation.”
A similar investigation was carried out into Zoox during its testing phase over the lack of traditional controls. Zoox went on to launch its ride-hailing service for the general public in September 2025, starting in Las Vegas, and secured federal approval to begin charging for rides in July. It also offers invite-only rides in San Francisco and has deployed vehicles for limited service in Austin and Miami.
Camera-Only Navigation Sets Tesla Apart
A defining feature that distinguishes Tesla’s robotaxi from its rivals is its reliance solely on cameras for navigation, rather than the more common combination of cameras, radar and lidar. That approach may cause unease among some passengers, particularly given that 71% of US adults said they would not feel comfortable riding in a driverless car, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in July. Tesla’s self-driving vehicles, along with those from competitors, have been involved in a number of crashes since reaching public roads.
Musk has also indicated that individuals will eventually be able to own a Cybercab.
