Tesla Cybercab public rides begin in Austin as NHTSA reviews

Tesla opened public Cybercab rides in Austin, Texas, on Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. CT, following a launch event the previous night. The two-seater vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals and operates using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system within a geofenced area. First rides occurred at the launch event, with participants able to hail the Cybercab to any location inside the company’s designated zone.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an Audit Query (AQ) into the Cybercab’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) certification. NHTSA seeks more information about how Tesla determined compliance, especially given the vehicle’s absence of conventional manual controls. The agency stated that Tesla began commercial deployment with a small number of Cybercab vehicles in Austin on September 3, 2026, and notified NHTSA of its certification and plans for gradual expansion.

NHTSA is examining the technical data and process Tesla used to certify the Cybercab, including whether certain FMVSS were deemed inapplicable due to the lack of a steering wheel, brake pedal, gas pedal, and mirrors. The agency noted that the certification process is entirely new, giving it use to scrutinize Tesla’s approach.

Tesla has added 45 Cybercab units to its Robotaxi-enabled fleet in Austin, based on public documents submitted to the State of Texas. The company has pursued fully autonomous ride-hailing for years, and regulators are expected to have questions as the technology moves from testing to public use.

Data collected from early rides in Austin will likely be shared with NHTSA to support broader rollout strategies across the United States. The agency emphasized that gathering information from these initial operations is key to ensuring safety for riders, pedestrians, and property.

Tesla Asia announced that the Cybercab will be on display in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai this month, with the official Tesla Asia account inviting the public to experience the future of autonomy. Exact dates and venues have not been released, and Tesla Japan directed fans to a sign-up page for updates. Neither post mentioned test rides or service areas, suggesting the tour consists of static displays at Tesla stores or public venues.

This Asia tour follows a previous Cybercab appearance at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai last November. At that event, Tesla’s regional general manager for Shanghai described the vehicle as part of the company’s broader mission, later formalized in Master Plan Part IV, which highlights autonomous vehicles’ potential to improve transportation affordability, availability, and safety while reducing pollution in dense cities.

Whether the Cybercab will operate as a robotaxi in Asia remains uncertain, especially given China’s existing autonomous ride-hailing market led by companies like Baidu’s Apollo Go and Pony AI. For now, the tour appears to be a marketing effort timed to coincide with the Austin launch momentum.