Tesla Expands Cybercab Fleet in Austin Amid Safety Audit
Tesla increased its Cybercab driverless fleet in Austin to 169 vehicles while facing a federal safety audit and criticism from first responders.
Tesla expanded its Cybercab driverless ride-hail service in Austin, Texas, increasing the number of authorized commercial vehicles from 45 to 169 since the service launched on September 3. The company intends for the Cybercab to become its highest-volume vehicle, with CEO Elon Musk aiming for widespread U.S. adoption by the end of 2026.
Early operations have yielded mixed results. Passengers reported technical issues with the vehicle's butterfly doors, pickup errors, and long wait times. These challenges persist as Tesla competes with Alphabet's Waymo, which currently operates over 4,000 vehicles across 15 U.S. markets.
Regulatory and safety concerns have emerged following the expansion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an audit query to verify that the Cybercab complies with federal safety standards. Simultaneously, Austin first responders raised concerns over the lack of manual controls, arguing that public safety representatives need the ability to take control of autonomous vehicles during emergencies through state or national regulations.
