Tesla’s Cybercab had a rocky first month in Austin. Now comes the hard part: expanding
Elon Musk's effort to move beyond auto sales largely relies on the success of his company's Cybercab, which launched in Austin a month ago.
TL;DR
- Tesla's Cybercab fleet in Texas has grown to 169 authorized vehicles since its Austin launch, up from 45.
- Initial passenger reviews cited long wait times, incorrect pick-up/drop-off locations, and issues with the vehicle's doors.
- Tesla's expansion is critical for its stock performance, which has lagged behind other tech stocks.
- The company faces stiff competition from Waymo, which operates in 15 U.S. cities and is expanding internationally.
- Waymo has 1,154 autonomous vehicles authorized for commercial use in Texas and has completed 270 million fully autonomous miles.
- Austin is a key market due to lax regulations and a strong tech community; Amazon's Zoox is also testing there.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an audit query into Cybercab's compliance with safety standards.
- First responders have expressed concerns about the Cybercab's lack of manual controls and unique doors, calling for regulatory changes.
- Public surveys indicate discomfort with riding in robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals, with many wanting Tesla to pause rides during the NHTSA investigation.
- Tesla aims to expand its Cybercab service to San Antonio, Dallas, Nevada, and Florida, despite not yet having permits for fully driverless operation in California.
- Tesla previously stated Cybercab is expected to be its largest volume vehicle once production ramps up.