Tesla Plans to Deliver Cybercab by Year-End as Steering Wheel-Free Design Faces US Regulatory Investigation

TradingKey - Tesla (TSLA) plans to begin delivering Cybercab robotaxis to customers by the end of 2026, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reviewing the vehicle's safety certification basis, and regulatory progress could impact its subsequent commercialization and large-scale deployment.

On October 21, US Eastern Time, Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla, stated during the third-quarter earnings call that the company aims to begin delivering the Cybercab to customers by the end of the year, with initial deliveries limited in scale before gradually expanding.

The Cybercab features a two-seat design equipped with butterfly doors, lacks a traditional steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, and rearview mirrors, and is positioned as a vehicle dedicated to autonomous mobility services.

NHTSA Probe May Affect Delivery Schedule

On September 3, Tesla launched limited commercial Cybercab operations in Austin, Texas. The following day, the NHTSA announced an investigation into its safety certification, focusing on how Tesla determined that the vehicle—which lacks traditional manual controls—complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

U.S. automakers typically self-certify that their vehicles comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, but the NHTSA can still investigate their compliance. The agency has proposed amending certain standards to accommodate autonomous vehicles without manual driving controls, but current standards remain in effect until those revisions take effect. Tesla must respond to the NHTSA's questions by October 30.

Cybercab Has Previously Adjusted Its Schedule Multiple Times

In 2024, Tesla originally planned to unveil the Robotaxi on August 8, but later postponed it to October 10. Musk stated at the time that he requested an important design change to the front of the vehicle, which required more time.

Regarding mass production, Tesla's first-quarter 2026 update stated that the Cybercab was scheduled to launch volume production that year, while still in the trial production phase at the time. The second-quarter update confirmed that the model had begun production at the Texas factory, while the company was simultaneously boosting 4680 battery production to support the ramp-up for models such as the Cybercab and Tesla Semi.

Currently, regulatory reviews, production ramp-up, and battery supply progress will all impact subsequent delivery scales and the commercialization process.

Expand Operations First, Then Gradually Scale Up Deliveries

Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's head of AI, stated during the third-quarter earnings call that the company is working to secure the necessary regulatory approvals and plans to expand its Cybercab Robotaxi service to Dallas in November 2026.

According to Tesla's third-quarter update, as of the end of September, its Robotaxi service had accumulated nearly 2 million miles of unsupervised driving, an increase of about eightfold from the second quarter. The Cybercab entered Robotaxi operation in Austin, Texas, on September 3, and vehicles currently coming off the assembly line are primarily being used for Tesla's internal fleet.

Elon Musk stated that the Cybercab will be primarily used for Tesla's ride-hailing service. However, the company plans to begin delivering the model to customers by the end of 2026, initially on a limited scale before gradually expanding.

Therefore, starting customer deliveries by the end of the year does not mean the Cybercab will immediately go on sale to individual consumers on a large scale, nor does it indicate that it is ready for full-scale operation in more cities. Subsequent progress remains dependent on regulatory approvals, fleet expansion, and production and delivery capabilities.