Autonomous vehicles

Tesla Robotaxi and Cybercab: From the 2019 Promise to Driverless Rides

Tesla’s robotaxi plan began with Elon Musk’s 2019 prediction of more than one million autonomous taxis by 2020, a target that did not materialize. The company later shifted to a purpose-built vehicle: it unveiled the no-steering-wheel, no-pedals Cybercab in October 2024, began paid Model Y robotaxi rides in Austin with safety monitors in June 2025, and introduced limited driverless Cybercab rides in Austin on September 3, 2026.