Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is preparing to bring its Cybercab robotaxi to public roads in Austin, Texas, potentially before the end of August, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Information first reported the planned rollout, noting that Tesla staff have been told the public phase would begin with Cybercab rides for Tesla employees on public roads.
The two-seat Cybercab is Tesla’s first vehicle designed without a steering wheel or brake pedal, built exclusively for driverless autonomous operation.
Tesla has been testing Cybercabs on public roads across the country since June, though those rides have been restricted to internal use only.
In July, the company began offering employees rides on private roads near its Austin campus, gathering feedback in a process that mirrors steps taken before launching its first Robotaxi hub there last year.
According to The Information, vehicles would be integrated into the existing Austin Robotaxi service within days of the public employee phase beginning, with an internal target of the end of August, though timing could shift.
Tesla completed emergency training with Austin first responders last week, covering how to handle Cybercabs in the field, including moving them if necessary.
The company currently runs its Austin Robotaxi service with approximately 186 registered Model Y vehicles equipped with full self-driving technology, and it remains unclear whether Cybercabs will replace or supplement that existing fleet.
Tesla’s regulatory status for commercial Cybercab service is unclear, The Information noted, adding an element of uncertainty to the launch timeline.
In its second-quarter 2026 update, Tesla confirmed it has begun production of the Cybercab at Gigafactory Texas, with installed annual manufacturing capacity listed at more than 125,000 units.
CEO Elon Musk addressed the rollout pace on the company’s earnings call, stating: “We need to accumulate driving data that is specific to the Cybercab before we can put a lot of them on the road.”
Tesla is currently gathering those miles using Cybercab units retrofitted with steering wheels and pedals for calibration purposes ahead of broader unsupervised deployment.
AI executive Ashok Elluswamy described the vehicle as “a phenomenal product” that riders “instantly fall in love with,” adding that manufacturing targets align with unsupervised Robotaxi mile growth.
The Cybercab sits at the center of Tesla’s broader strategic shift away from being purely an electric vehicle manufacturer toward autonomous driving and robotics.
Tesla expects to spend more than $25 billion this year supporting that transition, roughly three times its 2025 capital expenditure of $8.5 billion.
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around TSLA remained in “bullish” territory over the past 24 hours, though message volume held at “low” levels.
One Stocktwits user called the imminent launch “huge huge news” and expressed hope that the stock would rise on Tuesday following the report.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the Cybercab, TSLA stock has fallen 25% year-to-date, leaving investors watching closely for a meaningful catalyst.
