Article · AI translation
Thanks to IT Home reader 乌蝇哥的左手 for the tip!
IT Home reported on November 14 that Tesla has announced it is opening purchases of its Cybercab self-driving car to some individual customers, with a starting price of $29,990 (IT Home note: approximately 200,000 yuan at the current exchange rate). The first vehicles are expected to be delivered in December 2026.
For now, however, eligibility to purchase a Tesla Cybercab as an individual is limited to selected customers who have received invitations, and the first deliveries are temporarily concentrated in the Austin, Texas, area.
In addition to the $29,990 purchase price, customers must pay a nonrefundable $1,000 order deposit. The vehicle also requires a $299-per-month self-driving subscription to operate.
Because the Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, owners must rely on Tesla's self-driving software and related services. Tesla also said the vehicle requires regular maintenance to operate normally.
The purchase price includes the first month's subscription fee. After that, the fee is charged separately each month, and customers can cancel the subscription at any time.
The Cybercab is a model Tesla designed specifically for self-driving transportation services. It has 2 seats, a gold body and butterfly doors, and lacks a conventional steering wheel and pedals. The vehicle began offering Robotaxi service in Austin on September 3, 2026.
According to Tesla's official support page, Cybercab's driverless taxi service is currently available only in parts of Austin. Because the vehicle lacks conventional manual driving controls, where it can actually be used will be limited by the coverage area of Tesla's self-driving service and related operating conditions.
Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy said on the third-quarter earnings call that the company plans to begin delivering Cybercabs to customers before the end of 2026. The initial volume will be small, primarily to gain experience with vehicle deliveries, individual ownership and fleet management.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said at the time that Tesla would continue to own the vast majority of Cybercabs and use them to provide transportation services, with individual purchases forming only part of its business model.
Tesla also confirmed in its third-quarter earnings report that Cybercabs had begun joining its Austin Robotaxi fleet. Opening purchases to some individual customers marks the model's expansion from a company-operated driverless taxi fleet toward individual ownership.