TL;DRTesla is testing a production Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals on Austin roads, with a safety monitor in the passenger seat.
Tesla has begun testing a production version of its Cybercab on public roads in Austin, Texas, with no steering wheel and no pedals. The two-seat vehicle, which Tesla first revealed in October 2024, is being driven entirely by its autonomous software while a safety monitor rides in the right passenger seat. Tesla posted video of the test on X, showing the gold-colored Cybercab navigating Austin streets without any human controls inside.
This is the first time Tesla has put a vehicle without manual driving controls on public roads. Previous prototype Cybercabs tested in multiple US cities in recent weeks were equipped with a steering wheel and pedals. The production version removes those controls entirely, making it the clearest signal yet that Tesla’s purpose-built robotaxi is moving from concept to deployment.
The timing is not accidental. Last week, NHTSA proposed removing the federal requirement for brake pedals in vehicles designed exclusively for automated driving systems. The rule change, if adopted, would eliminate one of the last major regulatory barriers for vehicles like the Cybercab and is expected to go through later this year.
