Tesla's Cybercab Prototype Spotted Testing in Downtown Austin
Although the world watched the Tesla Cybercab navigate autonomously around the Warner Bros. lot in October 2024, encountering one on public roads is another matter. A sharp‑eyed enthusiast in downtown Austin...
In October 2024 the Tesla Cybercab demonstrated autonomous driving around the Warner Bros. lot, but sightings on public roads tell a different story. Recently, an observer in downtown Austin photographed a Cybercab undergoing real-world testing — with a human safety supervisor seated in the “driver’s” position.
The vehicle, bearing Texas manufacturer plates and Tesla’s matte-gold finish, was captured navigating downtown traffic. Unlike the mirrorless prototypes shown at the We, Robot event, this engineering mule carried a pair of small, triangular side mirrors and likely a steering wheel.
Those temporary mirrors are intended to satisfy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which require mirrors on operator-controlled vehicles. Although the photo angle did not clearly show a steering wheel, the presence of a front-seat safety monitor and the mirrors indicates Tesla is using this mule for safety and regulatory testing ahead of broader deployment. Temporary steering wheels have previously been fitted to Cybercab test vehicles at Giga Texas, so that detail is consistent with earlier development work.
Why include a human monitor? There are two main reasons. First, although the Cybercab is ultimately designed without a steering wheel or pedals, current FMVSS regulations mandate manual controls and mirrors for vehicles driven on public roads. Tesla continues to press regulators for federal rules that would allow production robotaxis without those components, but for now compliance requires them. Second, an engineer in the vehicle provides qualitative, real-world feedback while the system is stress-tested; that firsthand assessment helps ensure trips are not only safe but also smooth and comfortable.
Seeing an engineering mule in downtown traffic rather than only on Giga Texas test tracks signals a new phase of on-road validation. With Cybercab mass production slated to begin in April 2026 — roughly four months away — Tesla’s teams are intensifying efforts to ready the vehicle for deployment and eventual replacement of the Model Y in Austin and the Bay Area.
The vehicle, bearing Texas manufacturer plates and Tesla’s matte-gold finish, was captured navigating downtown traffic. Unlike the mirrorless prototypes shown at the We, Robot event, this engineering mule carried a pair of small, triangular side mirrors and likely a steering wheel.
Those temporary mirrors are intended to satisfy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which require mirrors on operator-controlled vehicles. Although the photo angle did not clearly show a steering wheel, the presence of a front-seat safety monitor and the mirrors indicates Tesla is using this mule for safety and regulatory testing ahead of broader deployment. Temporary steering wheels have previously been fitted to Cybercab test vehicles at Giga Texas, so that detail is consistent with earlier development work.
Why include a human monitor? There are two main reasons. First, although the Cybercab is ultimately designed without a steering wheel or pedals, current FMVSS regulations mandate manual controls and mirrors for vehicles driven on public roads. Tesla continues to press regulators for federal rules that would allow production robotaxis without those components, but for now compliance requires them. Second, an engineer in the vehicle provides qualitative, real-world feedback while the system is stress-tested; that firsthand assessment helps ensure trips are not only safe but also smooth and comfortable.
Seeing an engineering mule in downtown traffic rather than only on Giga Texas test tracks signals a new phase of on-road validation. With Cybercab mass production slated to begin in April 2026 — roughly four months away — Tesla’s teams are intensifying efforts to ready the vehicle for deployment and eventual replacement of the Model Y in Austin and the Bay Area.