Tesla begins testing pedal-less Cybercab in Austin

Tesla has started testing a production version of its Cybercab in Austin, Texas. The vehicle features two seats but does not include a steering wheel or pedals. For now, the testing is being conducted with a safety monitor sitting in the right passenger seat. This milestone comes nearly two years after Tesla first revealed the design of the Cybercab, which is intended to operate as a fully autonomous robotaxi—defined as an autonomous vehicle operating as a taxi service—that users can hail through Tesla’s app. Roughly a year ago, the company began testing a robotaxi service in Austin using Model Y SUVs, which have also utilized safety monitors. Recently, Tesla has been testing prototype versions of the Cybercab that still include a steering wheel and pedals in several cities across the United States, and has parked hundreds of the vehicles in parking lots in some of those cities.

A major regulatory hurdle to deploying these vehicles is likely about to be removed. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—the US federal agency responsible for vehicle safety—revealed a proposal that would not mandate brake pedals in vehicles designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems. While the proposal is currently in its public comment period, it is expected to go through later this year.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and other Tesla executives argue that the company can out-compete its rival Waymo, the autonomous driving unit owned by Alphabet. Tesla’s leadership believes controlling both vehicle production and driving software is expected to give it a cost advantage over Waymo, which relies on vehicle partnerships with brands like Jaguar and Zeekr. Additionally, Tesla is attempting to achieve full autonomy using only cameras, whereas Waymo utilizes a sensor suite that includes lidar and radar.

However, both companies continue to face operational and safety challenges. Tesla’s existing robotaxi service in Austin has seen its vehicles involved in minor crashes, including at least two caused by remote operators. Waymo has also experienced minor crashes. As the Alphabet-owned company scaled its operations, its vehicles have encountered several issues, including struggling to maneuver around construction zones, which led to a recall. Waymo’s vehicles have also struggled to avoid flooded areas during heavy rain, resulting in another recall, and have faced problems driving legally around school buses.

Why it matters

Testing the Cybercab without pedals or a steering wheel marks a significant step in Tesla’s push to develop a nationwide robotaxi network, potentially removing a regulatory hurdle regarding brake pedal mandates.