Tesla's robotaxi ambitions are moving into a new phase, with the company teasing its upcoming Cybercab ahead of an event in Austin, Texas, where it is expected to share more details about its driverless vehicle.
Tesla's fledgling Robotaxi business posted on X on Wednesday, hinting at the vehicle's most distinctive feature with the message “no steering wheel, no pedals.”
No steering wheel, no pedals
— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) September 2, 2026
Another post encouraged riders to “try it out” in Austin, while CEO Elon Musk added to the anticipation with a pinned post saying, “A storm of Cybercabs.”
A Storm of Cybercabs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 3, 2026
Tesla Cybercab: What To Expect
The posts came a day before a planned event in Austin on Thursday, where Tesla is expected to provide more information about the Cybercab.
The company first unveiled the design of the vehicle almost two years ago, as part of Musk's broader push to build a fully autonomous ride-hailing business.
Tesla has designed the Cybercab as a driverless two-seater with butterfly doors. Unlike the company's existing vehicles, the purpose-built robotaxi is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, allowing it to operate without a human driver.
Tesla has been testing a version of the Cybercab on public roads in multiple US markets. However, those test vehicles have so far included human drivers and traditional controls.
Cybercabs Spotted On Austin Roads
The latest developments have also given Tesla fans a glimpse of the vehicles in action.
New Street Research analyst Pierre Ferragu and Tesla enthusiasts shared video clips on X showing Cybercab vehicles travelling on public streets in Austin. The videos appeared to show the vehicles operating without a steering wheel or a driver on board, as reported by CNBC.
Cybercabs are taking over Austin pic.twitter.com/z2XFMciCeR
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 1, 2026
I am currently in downtown Austin. There are @Tesla Cybercabs EVERYWHERE. All of the Cybercabs in these clips have no steering wheels or pedals.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
Makes the vibe downtown feel so futuristic. Can't wait for tomorrow! ???? pic.twitter.com/HLEVgssgxn
The sightings have added to expectations that Tesla could soon expand its robotaxi operations, although the company's autonomous-driving ambitions have faced a long wait.
Tesla Robotaxi Ambitions Face Long-Standing Test
Bullish Tesla investors are betting that the company will eventually deploy a large number of robotaxis across several US cities, allowing it to challenge Waymo, which currently has a significant head start in the autonomous ride-hailing market.
Musk has been promising a Tesla capable of driving itself without human intervention for years. Since at least 2016, he has repeatedly told customers and investors that such a vehicle was close to becoming a reality.
That promise, however, has yet to fully materialise.
Tesla's current Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system still requires a human behind the wheel who can take control and brake or steer when necessary. That distinction is important as Tesla moves towards a robotaxi model in which there would be no human driver inside the vehicle.
Tesla's Unsupervised Robotaxi Fleet
Tesla's progress is also being closely tracked by independent observers. One Tesla Robotaxi tracker estimates that the company had just over 200 vehicles in its US fleet registered as “unsupervised”.
Tesla Cybercabs have officially gone Unsupervised in Austin, TX!
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) August 29, 2026
Cybercabs are now driving around the city without anyone in the vehicle. No steering wheel, no pedals.
LETS GO! pic.twitter.com/YoG2QiVa8c
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These vehicles are capable of operating without a human driver on board, but only within geofenced areas of certain cities where such operation is permitted.
Therefore, the Austin event may provide Tesla with a closer look at the state of its robotaxi program and whether Musk's long-promised vision of widespread autonomous driving is finally starting to take shape.
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