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Tesla’s Cybercab event in Austin divided opinion across social media: some hailed it as proof of robotaxi leadership, others called it an overhyped spectacle with little substance. Wall Street leaned toward the latter, unimpressed by an unusually subdued affair that lacked the festival energy of past Tesla events. Notably, CEO Elon Musk did not attend—a puzzling absence given his long-standing argument that Tesla’s future and valuation hinge on robotics and AI.
As senior reporter Sean O’Kane noted before the event, “The Cybercab is Tesla’s fork in the road: either the moment the company transforms urban transportation, or the moment it reveals that Tesla is, despite everything, just an automaker.”
The event did little to shift that narrative, but I place little weight on demos. The real test is whether Tesla can launch a robotaxi service safely and at scale. For now, scale is lacking, especially compared with Waymo. As of today, Tesla has registered just 45 Cybercabs in Texas, according to the state’s automated vehicle tracker.
A further complication emerged early Friday morning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Tesla just hours after the company put its first Cybercabs—which lack a steering wheel and pedals—on Austin streets. Federal vehicle safety regulations currently require manual controls like brake pedals, though the Department of Transportation recently proposed removing those requirements for fully self-driving vehicles.
Tesla chose to self-certify, the standard route for traditional human-driven vehicles. The NHTSA responded by tapping the brakes, although Tesla may continue operations while the investigation proceeds. This action has precedent, and you can read the full details here.
Curious about the Cybercab? Tesla has published several guides revealing important details—including that this robotaxi is not suitable for children. Here’s a complete roundup on the Cybercab, plus coverage of Tesla’s interest in selling the autonomous vehicles to fleet operators.
Deals
Editor’s note: This section will be updated as new funding rounds and acquisitions emerge in the mobility sector.
via TechCrunch