Tesla's Wheelless Robotaxi Goes Live in Austin, but the Real Test Starts Now

Tesla will unveil its steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Austin as part of a broader move toward an autonomous robotaxi network, but the bigger hurdles are software quality, scaling the service, regulatory approvals, and fleet economics—will Cybercabs be sold to consumers or run as a ride-hail fleet? Testing began in 2026 and has expanded to several states, with Waymo and regulators highlighting the challenges ahead for safe, profitable operation.