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Tesla Says 45 Cybercabs Are Registered for Texas Robotaxi Network Amid Federal Questions

The two-seat robotaxis lack steering wheels and pedals. Tesla’s next challenge is resolving how that design fits federal requirements while it tries to close ground on established driverless rivals.

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Tesla Says 45 Cybercabs Are Registered for Texas Robotaxi Network Amid Federal Questions
Tesla Says 45 Cybercabs Are Registered for Texas Robotaxi Network Amid Federal Questions

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Tesla says 45 Cybercabs are now registered for its robotaxi network in Texas, following an invite-only road debut in Austin. The important catch is that registration does not settle whether these vehicles can legally operate more broadly. The two-seat Cybercabs have no steering wheel or brake pedals, unlike the Tesla vehicles used in the company’s Austin robotaxi service since June 2025. That design collides with current federal safety rules, which require those controls and related systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, says Tesla has not requested an exemption and is evaluating the situation with the company. Tesla, meanwhile, says an exemption is unnecessary. The regulatory precedent is moving, but slowly: last month, Zoox received the first federal exemption for a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without human driving controls. Tesla says remote operators can intervene and directly drive a Cybercab from afar at up to 10 miles per hour. Government data records at least three minor crashes involving those operators, and Tesla says one person was hurt. Tesla’s head of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, also cited 1 million miles driven without humans behind the wheel. Waymo reached 1 million driverless passenger miles in January 2023, though the measures differ. Tesla is already asking about fleet purchases, and says it may eventually sell Cybercabs to individuals. The immediate constraint is whether federal rules change—or Tesla secures an exemption—before no-controls vehicles can scale.

Story brief

3 key points

Tesla’s no-controls Cybercab is now registered for a 45-vehicle Texas robotaxi network, but registration has not resolved whether the vehicles can legally operate under current federal safety rules. NHTSA says Tesla has not sought an exemption, while Tesla maintains one is unnecessary; Zoox recently received the first such exemption for a purpose-built autonomous vehicle. Remote operators can intervene, but reported...

  1. 01

    NHTSA requires steering wheels, brake pedals, and related systems; Tesla says it does not need an exemption.

  2. 02

    Zoox received the first federal exemption for a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without human controls last month.

  3. 03

    Remote operators can drive Cybercabs at up to 10 mph; government data records at least three minor crashes involving them.

Tesla says 45 Cybercabs are registered to operate on its Texas robotaxi network after an invite-only Austin road debut. The two-seat vehicles have no steering wheel or pedals, leaving their legal path into wider public operation unresolved.

The September 3 event was a change from Tesla’s Austin robotaxi service, which began in June 2025 with vehicles that retained steering wheels and brake pedals. Tesla did not livestream the Cybercab event; attendees were reportedly barred from posting for hours, and Elon Musk did not attend.

Tesla AI software head Ashok Elluswamy said Tesla vehicles had collectively traveled 1 million miles without humans behind the wheel. Waymo said it reached 1 million driverless passenger miles in January 2023 and now operates in 14 U.S. metro areas. The figures describe different measures, but the dates underline Tesla’s later arrival at that stated mileage mark.

Federal safety rules require steering wheels, brake pedals, and related systems. NHTSA said Tesla has not filed an exemption request for the Cybercab and that the agency is in contact with Tesla and evaluating the situation. A Tesla executive has said the company does not need an exemption.

The federal government granted Zoox the first exemption for a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without human driving controls last month. It also intends to fast-track rules that could ease larger-scale deployment of such vehicles, but those rules are not final.

Tesla says remote operators can help or intervene when problems arise, and can directly drive its robotaxis from afar at up to 10 mph. Government data records at least three minor crashes involving those operators; Tesla reports one person was hurt in those incidents.

Tesla plans to use Cybercabs in its ride-hailing network, sell no-controls vehicles to customers, and potentially let customers operate fleets. Its new interest form asks about Cybercab fleet purchases. Direct customer sales of vehicles without driving controls would likely require major legal changes.

Sources

  1. apnews.comMusk launches steering-wheel-free taxi service in bet riders lose 'no control' fears and hop inside
  2. wired.comTesla’s Make-or-Break Cybercab Had a Quiet Debut

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