Tesla tests steering-wheel-equipped Cybercab robotaxis in New York
Futurism reported that on 12 September 2026 Tesla carried out supervised tests of its Cybercab robotaxi on New York City streets, placing a human driver at the wheel and noting that the firm had not applied for autonomous-vehicle permits in the city. The vehicle was first unveiled at an Austin, Texas event on 27 August 2026, where Tesla showcased a gold-colored, steering-wheel-free Cybercab and invited businesses to join a fleet program (WIRED; TechCrunch). The company also held an invite-only demonstration on public roads that same month (Teslarati).
Shortly thereafter, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an audit query into the robotaxi’s compliance with federal safety standards (The Register). Tesla said the model would not carry passengers under 13 and would include multiple safety mechanisms (TechCrunch). In September, the firm began offering entrepreneurs the chance to purchase Cybercab units for ride-hailing services (Futurism).
