Tesla has started testing a production version of its Cybercab, a fully autonomous robotaxi, in Austin, Texas. The vehicle has two seats but no steering wheel or pedals. A safety monitor is present in the right passenger seat during the testing. This development comes nearly two years after Tesla revealed the design of the Cybercab.
The testing is significant as it marks a step towards realizing Tesla's goal of a scaled-up robotaxi network. The company has been testing prototype versions of the Cybercab in several US cities and has also been parking hundreds of the vehicles in parking lots, sparking speculation about the launch of a robotaxi network.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a rule that would not mandate brake pedals in vehicles designed for automated driving systems, which could remove a hurdle for Tesla's plans.
