Tesla will sell its Cybercab, an autonomous car without steering wheel or pedals, to individuals

The American car manufacturer Tesla announced Friday that certain customers will be able to purchase for their personal use, its autonomous Cybercab, a vehicle without steering wheel or pedals, intended for driverless taxi services. This two-seater vehicle was unveiled in October 2024 and deployed in select US cities as part of Tesla's “Robotaxi” service. “Selected customers are now invited to purchase the Cybercab for personal use,” the automaker announced on X.

An image accompanying the post showed an estimated purchase price of $29,990, excluding taxes, and an expected delivery date of December. The vehicle also requires a monthly “autonomy subscription” of $299 and a non-refundable deposit of $1,000. “Tesla will gradually reduce production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make way for increased production of the Cybercab,” Elon Musk, boss of the American manufacturer, announced on November 6 on X.

An open investigation

The federal highway safety agency (NHTSA), however, opened an investigation on September 4 to determine “the process and technical data on which Tesla relied to certify the Cybercab and the inherent problems,” according to a notice published on the regulator’s website. Federal regulations currently require the presence of a steering wheel and pedals for all commercial operation, unless exempt, but Tesla has not requested one.

Tesla has highlighted what it touts as the vehicle's safety and ease of use for people with disabilities, and said the Cybercab "democratizes clean transportation for everyone." State laws require many vehicles to have a human supervisor or driver ready to take over if necessary. Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, offers its services in 11 American cities.