On October 26, Tesla CEO Elon Musk finally set a clear production timeline for the Cybercab, while also putting to rest a rumor that had been circulating.
According to reports, Tesla first unveiled the Cybercab last October. Positioned as an affordable two-seater vehicle, it is designed specifically for fully autonomous ride-hailing. Initially, production was planned to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
Now, Tesla has officially announced that mass production of the Cybercab will start in the second quarter of 2026. Recently, the company has accelerated progress on the project, conducting real-vehicle tests at its Fremont test track and carrying out crash safety evaluations.
During Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings call, Musk stated:“The biggest source of production expansion will be the Cybercab, which will start production in the second quarter of next year. This vehicle is fully optimized for full self-driving. In fact, it has no steering wheel or pedals, truly achieving the ultimate optimization of cost per mile of operation.”
Previously, some speculated that the Cybercab might still include a steering wheel and pedals. These rumors stemmed from certain design elements suggesting the vehicle might not be exclusively for autonomous driving—such as the presence of side mirrors. Additionally, photos taken on Tesla’s premises appeared to show a Cybercab with a steering wheel, further fueling speculation about potential manual controls.
However, during the earnings call, Musk once again emphasized the Cybercab’s fully autonomous nature. This reaffirmation sent a positive signal to investors, underscoring Tesla’s firm commitment to its autonomous driving strategy and reinforcing market confidence in the company’s technological trajectory in self-driving development.
