“I tend to be a little optimistic with time frames, but in 2026, so yeah, before 2027. Let me put it that way,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in October, confirming the company’s plan to produce its first robotaxi—a Cybercab without pedals or steering wheels—within two years.
As with many of Musk’s promises, the timeline seems ambitious given the track record of autonomous vehicles in the U.S. While several cities are testing the technology, progress has been slow, marred by accidents and regulatory concerns. Regulators are hesitant to approve cars that can’t be locally controlled—in other words, vehicles without steering wheels or pedals.
Tesla is already in discussions with Austin to bring fully autonomous cars to the streets, though the Cybercab remains a future vision.
According to Bloomberg, emails between Tesla and Austin’s autonomous vehicle task force, which include safety officials and transportation experts, have been exchanged since May. These conversations reportedly focus on safety—a critical topic in the autonomous vehicle debate.
Safety at the Core of the Debate
Tesla views finding the right city for its first deployment as a key step toward its future plans. During Musk’s October investor call, skeptics questioned why Tesla prioritized the Cybercab over the long-promised $25,000 Tesla.
Musk dismissed the idea as “absurd,” doubling down on Tesla’s focus on AI tools and software. Tesla has long positioned itself as a leader in autonomous driving technology, claiming it can sell vehicles at cost while relying on software for profitability. The Cybercab announcement signals a shift away from the traditional auto industry.
However, Tesla faces mounting pressure to deliver. Its Full Self-Driving system, which still requires human supervision, has been criticized for its misleading name. Regulators and watchdog groups have scrutinized the system, and rivals like Mercedes have surpassed Tesla by securing approval for level 3 autonomous vehicles under specific conditions, which don’t require human intervention.
In recent times, the news related to the autonomous car hasn’t been good for the company. Firstly, rivals such as Mercedes have overtaken them in the race, gaining the license to operate as a level 3 autonomous vehicle (in very specific circumstances), which means that it doesn’t need human intervention.
Moreover, rivals that have already deployed their technology have had so much trouble proving its viability that General Motors has canceled the Cruise project. It’s yet another stone on the road to profitability for the autonomous car that promises gigantic revenue streams but has so far only served some companies to spend billions of dollars worth of cash.
Bloomberg reports that Tesla and Austin’s regulators are focused on safety as the primary hurdle to deployment.
The need for public trust is underscored by incidents like Cruise’s recent failure in San Francisco, where its autonomous cars were boycotted, criticized by emergency services, and involved in a fatal accident that led to the program’s temporary suspension.
Austin has attracted various companies to test autonomous vehicles, including Waymo, Volkswagen, and Zoox. To ensure safety, the city has maintained a task force that includes emergency services and transportation department officials.
At the same time, Musk’s relationship with the incoming Trump administration could influence Tesla’s autonomous vehicle rollout. According to Reuters, Trump plans to eliminate a rule requiring semi-autonomous driving systems to report accidents—a rule that has disproportionately affected Tesla. The company has reported the most accidents among systems with driver assistance features, particularly in low-visibility conditions.
Tesla’s ability to launch a fully autonomous service hinges on its ability to navigate these regulatory hurdles and public safety concerns. Deployments so far have been limited to specific neighborhoods, with competitors like Waymo maintaining restricted operations. Musk, however, remains optimistic, stating Tesla’s system is ready for wide-scale deployment. Whether this vision aligns with regulatory and public safety demands remains to be seen.
Musk, with a foot in the Trump administration and a penchant for bold promises, faces a monumental task in proving the viability of a fully autonomous future.
Image | Tesla Fans Schweiz (Unsplash)
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