Tesla tests steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Austin

Tesla has begun testing a production version of its steering-wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi on public roads in Austin, Texas. The two-seat vehicle, which lacks any pedals or a steering wheel, is being driven by its autonomous software with a safety monitor seated in the passenger seat. The company announced the engineering tests on June 30, 2026, marking the first time a production-intent unit of this purpose-built autonomous vehicle has operated on public streets.

The vehicle represents a significant step toward Tesla’s long-promised robotaxi service. The company first unveiled the Cybercab design in October 2024. Production began at its Gigafactory Texas in February 2026. The current tests are described as an engineering validation phase, a necessary precursor to carrying paying passengers but distinct from a commercial launch. Tesla’s existing robotaxi service in Austin, which launched in June 2025, continues to use modified Model Y SUVs, not the Cybercab.

A key regulatory hurdle for such a vehicle may soon be removed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently proposed eliminating the federal requirement for brake pedals in vehicles designed to be driven...