Tesla Opens Cybercab Orders for Select Customers

Tesla has opened orders for its autonomous Cybercab to private buyers in the United States, offering the steering-wheel-free two-seater at an estimated price of $29,990 before taxes.

The company announced the launch through its official Robotaxi account on X, stating that “select customers are now being invited to purchase Cybercab for personal use.” Production of the vehicle began at Gigafactory Texas in April 2026, and initial deliveries are slated to begin in Austin in December 2026 for buyers who put down a $1,000 non-refundable deposit.

The Mandatory Autonomy Subscription

While the $29,990 sticker price undercuts the Model 3 by $7,000, operating the vehicle requires a continuous financial commitment. Buyers must subscribe to Tesla’s autonomy software at a mandatory $299-a-month rate, with the first month included in the purchase.

According to the Autonomy Subscription Agreement cited in online tracking reports, the vehicle will not operate without an active paid subscription. Canceling the monthly fee leaves the car without manual controls for public roads, effectively rendering it unusable.

The vehicle uses a front-mounted single motor with a maximum output of 163 kW, delivering 219 horsepower alongside a 47.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Weighing in at 1,412 kilograms, the car delivers an EPA-estimated range of roughly 673 kilometers and consumes 10.2 kWh per 100 kilometers.

When it was originally introduced by Elon Musk in 2024 during the “We, Robot” event, the vehicle was promised to cost under $30,000. That initial unveiling drew a sharp public response, including tech influencer Marques Brownlee promising to shave his head on camera if Tesla actually delivered the vehicle for under $30,000 before 2027.

The $299 monthly fee adds more than $10,700 to ownership costs over three years, and approaches $18,000 if stretch-owned to five years. In contrast, Musk acknowledged during public commentary that the current $299 monthly subscription is too expensive and should eventually drop to around $115 per month.

The vehicle’s architecture features a 21-inch center touchscreen, 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, no side mirrors or rear window, and a purpose-built camera-only autonomy stack running unsupervised FSD version 15 on modified Hardware 4. Tesla insurance can be used to get the vehicle insured, though the monthly subscription explicitly excludes auto insurance.

The subscription terms further dictate that operations outside the permitted operating area are strictly prohibited and may be technologically prevented. Included within the subscription are vehicle connectivity, remote support, roadside assistance, and covered services. Hauling services are provided up to a span of roughly 50 miles heading to or leaving a Tesla service center or the registrant’s home location when necessary.

Unplanned repairs sitting outside Appendix A are excluded from the subscription, though they may fall under the vehicle warranty. For scheduled appointments, the Cybercab travels autonomously and unoccupied to a Tesla service center—or is transported if required—and returns automatically once the work is completed.

Modifications such as wraps, tint, and wheel changes must go through Tesla or a Tesla-authorized provider to the extent allowed by law; non-compliance risks subscription suspension.

Accumulating three or more strikeouts for improper or unsafe use triggers a one-week suspension of autonomous driving features, during which the vehicle may not operate and the monthly payment is not prorated. Tesla explicitly reserves the right to remotely access, locate, restrict, control, or place any Cybercab into a safe state.

Cybercabs Operate Within Specific Service Areas and Geofences

Privately owned Cybercabs face strict operational boundaries. The vehicle will only be available in supported service areas where Tesla currently operates its driverless ride-hailing fleet in Texas and Florida.

Tracking of the Robotaxi app indicates that active pickup and drop-off zones cover only a portion of the advertised geofences across cities like Austin and Miami, constrained by infrastructure such as railroad crossings.

NHTSA Audits Tesla Safety Certifications for Cybercab

The personal sales pilot arrives as the vehicle faces federal oversight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a formal audit inquiry in September examining how Tesla self-certified the Cybercab against federal safety standards that typically mandate physical controls like steering wheels and pedals.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized at the time of the probe’s announcement that the agency needs to ensure all laws are followed. Tesla previously self-certified up to 1,000 vehicles under new Texas rules, maintaining that the federal cap of 2,500 exempted vehicles per year does not apply, with 45 purpose-built units registered in Texas when the audit was announced.

Tesla currently has 278 Cybercabs in operation, representing approximately 40 percent of its fleet, with public fleet estimates pointing to roughly 4,000 total robotaxis operating across its service footprint. The company emphasizes that the current consumer rollout remains a limited invitation-only pilot, with the vast majority of production capacity continuing to supply its own commercial fleet.

As independent tracking notes, a prior test ride in Austin was priced at $7.77 compared to $12.10 for the exact same trip executed inside a four-seat Model Y robotaxi. Musk has asserted that the Cybercab will eventually launch nationwide the moment federal and state regulators grant final approval, removing city-by-city geographic limitations entirely.