Tesla is finally launching the Cybercab — let’s hope it’s ready
Tesla is preparing for the public launch of its driverless Cybercab in Austin, Texas, despite ongoing concerns regarding the safety and reliability of its Full Self-Driving software. While the company is gathering data and training first responders, critics and federal regulators remain skeptical about the vehicle's readiness for public roads without human intervention.
Why it matters
The launch represents a critical test for autonomous vehicle safety and Tesla's ability to transition from supervised driver-assist systems to fully driverless commercial operations.
The Tesla Cybercab, that golden two-seater central to Elon Musk’s robo-supremacist ambitions, is finally nearing it’s public launch. Whether or not the no-steering wheel and no-pedal vehicle is actually ready for public roads, let alone customers, remains very much in doubt.
According to The Information, Tesla is planning a public launch of the Cybercab in Austin, Texas, as soon as this month. The driverless vehicle has been popping up around the country, although often with a steering wheel and pedals, as employees are continuing to gather data. Tesla employees have been testing the fully driverless version on private roads around the company’s campus since July. And it recently completed a training with first responders in Austin, teaching them how to move the vehicles in the event of an emergency, Brad Cesak, a spokesperson for the city of Austin, confirmed.
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