Tesla Cybercab operates in Austin as emergency officials urge stricter standards

The short version

• Tesla has deployed its steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Austin, competing against existing robotaxi services.[Business Insider]
• The vehicle is intended to be sold for roughly $30,000 once commercially available.[Business Insider]
• A local Austin fire captain has called for higher safety standards for vehicles lacking steering wheels, to which Tesla did not respond.[Business Insider]

Key facts

• Tesla's Cybercab has begun operating on Austin streets without pedals or a steering wheel.[Business Insider]
• The vehicle is projected to cost approximately $30,000 when released for public sale.[Business Insider]
• Austin Fire Captain Matthew McElearney has called for higher standards regarding vehicles operating without steering wheels.[Business Insider]
• Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives estimates Tesla could eventually capture roughly 80% of the robotaxi market.[Business Insider]
• Waymo reports that roughly 4,000 fully driverless robotaxis currently operate on American roads.[Business Insider]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• I took Elon Musk's 'golden robot' for a test drive — and saw the Cybercab's strengths and weaknesses first-handBusiness Insider metered