Tesla Plans to Launch Cybercab Sales by Year-End Amid Safety Investigations

Tesla announced it will start selling its Cybercab to customers by the end of the year, despite ongoing investigations by federal regulators regarding the vehicle’s compliance with safety standards. The autonomous two-seater, which is gold-hued, does not feature a steering wheel or other traditional controls.

During the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of engineering, stated that the Cybercabs currently being produced are intended for the company’s own robotaxi fleet. As this fleet expands, Tesla plans to deliver fully designed autonomous vehicles to customers, starting on a small scale and increasing as it learns about delivery, ownership, and fleet management of these vehicles.

Last month, Tesla hinted at selling the autonomous vehicle to third parties during its Cybercab event in Austin, even providing a form for interested buyers. However, it remained unclear whether the company would proceed with these plans.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long discussed the vision of creating a large fleet of low-cost robotaxis. Initially, these plans focused on converting privately owned Tesla vehicles into self-driving taxis through software updates, a strategy that has yet to materialize. Musk’s recent comments indicate a shift in approach.

Currently, Tesla owners can subscribe to Full Self-Driving (Supervised), an advanced driver-assistance system that automates many driving tasks but still requires driver engagement. The company continues to release software updates to enhance this system, although human drivers must remain alert and ready to take control.

Musk mentioned that an unsupervised version of Full Self-Driving, which would allow for fully autonomous driving, is expected to be rolled out to customers in the second quarter of next year. This represents yet another delay for Tesla owners who have been waiting for this capability.

If both timelines are met, third-party fleet customers could purchase the autonomous Cybercab and potentially operate it as a robotaxi service before Tesla owners gain access to similar autonomous features in their own vehicles.

Musk clarified that the Cybercab is designed primarily as a ride-hailing vehicle rather than a personal car. He stated, “Cybercab is primarily going to be something that is offered as like transport as a service,” contrasting it with Tesla’s other models, which are intended for ownership.

However, there is a significant hurdle that could impact Tesla’s Cybercab plans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced last month that it has opened an investigation into the Cybercab, shortly after the vehicles began operating on public streets in Austin.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) mandate manual controls, such as brake pedals, as well as features like rearview and side mirrors. Automakers typically self-certify compliance with FMVSS rules, and Tesla has done so as well. Current regulations do not accommodate vehicles lacking manual controls, although the Department of Transportation has recently proposed removing these requirements for vehicles designed for autonomous driving.

In the meantime, the NHTSA will investigate the Cybercab to assess the process and technical data Tesla used in certifying the vehicle. The outcome of this investigation could determine whether Tesla, or any other company, can legally operate the Cybercab.

Source: TechCrunch