Tesla starts testing Cybercab, without pedals or a steering wheel, in Austin

Tesla starts testing its production Cybercab without steering wheel or pedals in Austin

Tesla has begun testing a production Cybercab — with no steering wheel or pedals — on public roads in Austin, Texas. A safety monitor rides in the passenger seat while the vehicle operates entirely on autonomous software. This marks the first time Tesla has put a vehicle without manual controls on public roads, a significant step from earlier prototypes that retained a steering wheel and pedals. The move coincides with NHTSA's proposal to remove the federal requirement for brake pedals in fully automated vehicles. Tesla currently operates 42 robotaxis in Texas compared to Waymo's 577, and sees the purpose-built Cybercab — targeting a sub-$30,000 price and camera-only perception — as its path to cost-competitive scaling. The Austin fleet has logged 17 incidents since July 2025, and both Tesla and Waymo continue to encounter edge cases as they scale autonomous operations.