In Austin, Texas, Tesla has begun commercial operation of the Cybercab — a two-seat robotaxi without a steering wheel, pedals, or traditional mirrors. The golden cars with butterfly doors hit the city's streets in early September 2026, and passengers can already book rides through the Robotaxi app.
The event was low-key: a private evening for invited guests, without a livestream or grand announcements. The company registered 45 such vehicles in Texas, adding to a fleet of hundreds of Model Ys. Texas remains one of the most favorable states for autonomous vehicles — no human behind the wheel is required here.
The launch coincides with a review by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The regulator is examining Tesla's self-certification process: the company itself confirmed compliance with federal safety standards, deeming some requirements inapplicable to a fully autonomous vehicle. The review covers about a thousand Cybercabs.
The interests of both sides are clear. Tesla aims to accelerate the transition to mass robotaxis and avoid restrictions that apply to companies like Zoox. Regulators, in turn, must ensure that new rules do not create safety gaps. No hidden agreements are apparent — everything is happening within an open dialogue between the manufacturer and NHTSA.
For ordinary people in Austin and other cities, this means a new travel option: driverless, with an emphasis on comfort and dynamic pricing. The fleet is still small, but expansion is already planned. Doesn't it make you think about how quickly the familiar look of the car is changing?
In the long term, success depends on how quickly Tesla resolves matters with NHTSA and scales production. If the review passes without serious delays, the Cybercab could become the first mass-produced example of a vehicle designed from the start solely for autonomous operation.
For the global market, this is a signal: autonomous transport is moving from tests to real commerce, but every step requires careful legal and engineering work.
