Overview
- Tesla began offering limited paid Cybercab rides after its Sept. 3 launch event, operating two‑seat, steering‑wheel‑free robotaxis inside a geofenced area of Austin.
- Hours after the Austin event the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an audit of Tesla’s self‑certification to check compliance with federal vehicle safety standards for roughly 1,000 Cybercabs.
- Rider videos from Sept. 7–9 showed a software glitch that exposed a hidden touchscreen ‘virtual joystick,’ prompting questions about why manual controls are embedded and how emergency crews could move wheel‑less vehicles.
- Tesla circulated a robotaxi interest form and reportedly drew tens of thousands of responses from potential fleet operators even as analysts warn that vehicle depreciation, software risk, and Tesla’s control of pricing could limit operator profits.
- Regulatory moves and market responses are mixed: Slovenia granted a temporary FSD approval for driver‑attentive use, Tesla stock has swung on the news, and incumbents like Waymo highlight differences in sensor design, scale, and safety redundancy.