KATHMANDU: Tesla has started engineering tests of its first production Cybercab on public roads in Austin, marking the first validation of the purpose-built robotaxi outside the factory.
The company shared a video showing the two-seat Cybercab operating on city roads with a safety monitor sitting in the front passenger seat. The vehicle does not have a steering wheel or pedals, as it has been designed as a fully autonomous vehicle.
Tesla clarified that the current tests are for engineering validation and are not part of paid driverless customer rides. A human supervisor is still present inside the vehicle during testing.
The move follows the production start of the first Cybercab at Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas in February. The company confirmed production progress during its first-quarter earnings call in April.
Tesla’s existing Robotaxi service in Austin is currently not using the Cybercab. The service operates with Model Y vehicles equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software.
The Cybercab is expected to become Tesla’s dedicated robotaxi platform. According to EPA filings, the vehicle weighs 1412 kg and comes with a 48 kWh battery and 219 hp electric motor. Tesla claims it is one of the company’s most efficient EVs.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously suggested that the Cybercab could be priced below $30,000.
The company is testing the Cybercab as it aims to compete with existing autonomous ride-hailing services. Companies like Waymo are already operating commercial driverless services in several US cities.
