Tesla to Unveil Steering-Wheel-Free Cybercab in Austin

Tesla will unveil the Cybercab, a two-seater autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel, at a launch event in downtown Austin, Texas, on September 4, 2026. CEO Elon Musk intends for the vehicle to serve as the foundation of a global robotaxi network, where owners can integrate their cars into a company-managed ride-hailing fleet.

Although production of the Cybercab began in April 2026, Musk has warned that initial output "will be very slow." The company currently operates a limited robotaxi service using autonomous Model Ys in Florida and Texas, though the expansion has not met Musk's earlier predictions of hyper-exponential growth.

Tesla continues to face significant regulatory challenges, including the lack of permits to operate driverless services in California and legal hurdles regarding the sale of vehicles lacking steering wheels. As of September 3, Tesla has 420 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas, including 45 Cybercabs, trailing Waymo, which has 988 registered vehicles in the state.