Tesla says Cybercab sales could start by year-end

Tesla said Wednesday that it plans to start selling its Cybercab to customers by the end of the year, while federal regulators investigate whether the vehicle meets safety standards. The gold-hued, autonomous two-seater has no steering wheel or other traditional controls.

On Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call, engineering vice president Lars Moravy said Cybercabs being produced now are intended for the company’s own robotaxi fleet. As the fleet grows, Tesla will “mainly deliver fully designed autonomous vehicles to our customers,” he said, adding that deliveries would start small and expand as the company learns about delivery, ownership and fleet management.

Tesla first raised the possibility of selling Cybercabs to third parties around its event in Austin last month, but it was unclear whether the company would follow through. CEO Elon Musk said unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD), which would not require driver attention, is expected to reach customers in the second quarter of next year. Today’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) still requires drivers to remain engaged and ready to take control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation last month, after Cybercabs began operating on public streets in Austin. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) require manual controls such as brake pedals, as well as features including rearview and side mirrors. The Department of Transportation has proposed removing manual-control requirements for vehicles designed to drive autonomously. NHTSA says its investigation will examine Tesla’s certification process and supporting technical data. Its outcome could affect whether Tesla or others can legally operate the Cybercab.