Tesla has opened purchasing for its Cybercab autonomous vehicle to selected customers, marking an expansion of its robotaxi operations. The two-seater vehicle is priced at $29,990 and is available only in cities where Tesla operates its Robotaxi service, with initial availability limited.
Purchasers are required to pay a $299-per-month Autonomy Subscription in addition to the base price, a feature not mentioned when Chief Executive Elon Musk first introduced the Cybercab in 2024. Over a five-year ownership period, this recurring fee totals approximately $17,940, bringing the effective cost to roughly $47,600 before taxes, insurance, and charging expenses. The subscription is mandatory and non-cancellable without rendering the vehicle unusable, as the Cybercab lacks manual driving controls. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure a delivery slot.
The purchase terms contain several restrictions that differ from initial promotional messaging. Owners are prohibited from using the vehicle for commercial purposes, including ride-sharing services or participation in Tesla’s own Robotaxi network. Tesla AI Chief Ashok Elluswamy has indicated that customer vehicles may be permitted to join the network in Q2 2027, meaning early buyers cannot offset operating costs through income generation. Tesla retains the right to unilaterally modify subscription pricing with 30 days’ notice, and cancellations result in forfeiture of remaining monthly payments.
The offering faces significant regulatory hurdles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a formal audit into Tesla’s self-certification of the steering-wheel-free vehicle, with a ruling still pending. Auto insurance implications remain unclear, as conventional underwriting does not address vehicles without human operators. Liability allocation between vehicle owners and Tesla in autonomous driving incidents has not been publicly addressed. The company has not disclosed selection criteria for invited buyers or the allocation of production between private sales and internal fleet operations.
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