Tesla officially started production of the Cybercab, a vehicle designed for autonomous ride-hailing. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the move to transform Tesla into an AI and robotics company. The vehicle lacks a steering wheel and pedals. It operates exclusively using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software.
Tesla plans to deploy the Cybercab in its own driverless ride-hailing network. The company will also sell the vehicle to the public and taxi fleet operators. Musk expects the Cybercab to impact Tesla’s financials by the end of this year. This production start marks a strategic shift toward high-technology revenue streams.
The Cybercab requires regulatory clearance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for U.S. sales. The vehicle does not comply with current rules requiring manual controls. NHTSA can grant exemptions for up to 2,500 non-compliant vehicles annually per automaker.