Tesla Preps Cybercab Launch: What to Know About the Newest Robotaxi
Tesla is gearing up to release details about its new two-seat Cybercab robotaxi amid plans to greatly expand the service to multiple states.
Tesla has posted multiple teasers on X about the upcoming reveal, including an Aug. 29 post promising the Cybercab reveal is “less than one week away.” The company is planning to hold an event at its Austin headquarters on Sept. 3, according to multiple reports.
Tesla is planning to expand its Robotaxi service to a “dozen or so states” by the end of the year, CEO Elon Musk told investors as his company was reporting first-quarter earnings on April 22.
Tesla said on its website that Cybercab will be a “purpose-built fully autonomous vehicle” that will offer rides in riders’ areas in the future.
Musk has also said the Robotaxi will be a big part in his company’s “overall shift to an autonomous future.”
With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at what is known about the Tesla Cybercab and the company’s plans for its Robotaxi expansion.
What Are the Specs of the Tesla Cybercab?
Tesla revealed in documents submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in May that the Cybercab will have a fully electric motor. It will weigh 3,113 pounds and have a 48 kWh lithium-ion battery with a charge-depleting range of about 418 miles.
Tesla said the Cybercab will be all-wheel drive and have 219 horsepower. The vehicle will have regenerative braking, which is commonplace on most fully electric cars.
What Will a Cybercab Ride Be Like?
Tesla said rides in a Cybercab robotaxi will be ordered using a cellphone app similar to those riders now use to search for Uber and Lyft rides.
The company says riders will have to create an account, and the app is currently available only on Apple iOS devices.
Tesla says riders will wait for their Cybercab rides at a designated pickup location and will be notified when the car arrives via the app. But there’s one big catch: In a Tesla Cybercab, there will be no human driver behind the wheel to greet riders when they open the door.
Tesla says passengers will simply tap a “Start Ride” button when they enter the Cybercab to get their trip going. The company said riders will be able to personalize their Robotaxi experience with features such as climate settings and seat position. They will also be able to stream through the Robotaxi app, and certain driver-profile settings will carry over for Tesla vehicle owners.
The company says riders should gather their belongings upon arrival at their destination, exit the vehicle, close all doors and provide feedback via the app at the end of the ride.
How Much Will Cybercab Rides Cost?
On its website, Tesla says, “We want Robotaxi pricing to be simple and easy for you to understand.”
“Initially, as part of our introductory program, we will charge a simple, affordable rate plus applicable taxes and fees for all rides within the available service area,” the company said. But there’s a caveat: Tesla says “pricing is subject to change.”
Where Do Tesla’s Robotaxis Operate?
Tesla says it currently operates its Robotaxis using Model Ys in limited areas of Austin, Dallas, Houston and California.
The company has previously told investors that it plans to expand the service to cities such as Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Las Vegas.
Musk told investors on the April earnings call that his company’s expanded Robotaxi service will use the same software that is being used in Austin and San Francisco.
“The limiting factor for expansion is really rigorous validation,” Musk said. “Making sure things are completely safe. We don’t want to have a single accident or injury with the expansion of robotaxi, and we’ve — to the credit of the team — not had a single one to date.”
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at [email protected].
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
