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Tesla Cybercab pressure to expand after rocky first month in Austin
cnbc.com • • business
Key Points:
- Since Tesla's Cybercab launch in Austin in September, the number of driverless two-seaters authorized for commercial service in Texas has nearly quadrupled, reaching 169 vehicles as of late October.
- Passengers have reported mixed experiences with the Cybercab, citing issues such as long wait times, incorrect pickups/drop-offs, and technical problems with the unique butterfly doors.
- Tesla faces regulatory scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is auditing the Cybercab's compliance with federal safety standards, delaying the company’s planned expansion beyond Austin.
- Competitor Waymo operates a significantly larger fleet with over 4,000 autonomous vehicles in the U.S., including 1,154 authorized in Texas, and offers more mature, 24/7 service across multiple cities and international markets.
- Public safety officials and surveys reveal ongoing concerns about Tesla’s fully driverless vehicles lacking manual controls, with calls for dynamic certification and regulatory measures to ensure safety and emergency response capabilities.
