Tesla Opens $30,000 Cybercab Orders to Select Buyers

WHO:

Engadget - Tesla invited select customers to purchase a Cybercab for personal use.

Techmeme (Bloomberg) - Tesla Inc. invited select customers to order the vehicle as a step toward making its driverless car available to consumers.

The Verge - Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced the Cybercab in 2024 and promoted customer ownership; Tesla AI chief Ashok Elluswamy identified Q2 2027 as a possible target for allowing customer cars onto the Robotaxi network.

The Verge - Tesla’s Robotaxi account on X announced the offer and posted screenshots of the order page and invitation email.

WHAT:

Techmeme (Bloomberg) - The Cybercab is listed at $30,000, with a required $299 monthly Autonomy Subscription to operate.

Techmeme (Electrek) - Tesla’s posted Autonomy Subscription Agreement requires personal buyers to pay $299 per month in addition to the vehicle’s $29,990 purchase price.

The Verge - Initial availability is limited; Tesla’s invitation says the car will be available only in supported service areas.

The Verge - Buyers must pay a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to join the line for a December delivery window, which is not guaranteed.

The Verge - Over five years, the subscription adds $17,940, bringing the estimated baseline cost to roughly $47,600 before taxes, charging, and insurance.

The Verge - Canceling the subscription leaves the Cybercab without a manual-driving fallback and unusable on public roads. The subscription includes autonomous driving, maintenance, and towing, but excludes auto insurance.

The Verge - Purchase terms prohibit commercial use, including Uber, DoorDash, or joining Tesla’s Robotaxi network.

The Verge - Tesla may raise the price with 30 days’ notice; continued service use after updated rules constitutes acceptance. Cancellation or suspension does not earn a partial refund for the remaining paid month.

The Verge - Musk called the $299 monthly subscription “too high” and said it should be $115 per month or closer to Tesla’s $99 monthly Full Self-Driving subscription.

The Verge - Tesla has 278 Cybercabs in operation, about 40 percent of its fleet, according to the crowd-sourced Robotaxi Tracker.

WHERE:

The Verge - Tesla began offering Cybercab rides through its Model Y-powered Robotaxi service in Austin.

The Verge - Personal Cybercabs are restricted to supported service areas where Tesla operates its Robotaxi service.

WHEN:

The Verge - Musk first introduced the Cybercab in 2024; Tesla began offering Cybercab rides in Austin in September.

The Verge - The invitation refers to a December delivery window; Elluswamy floated Q2 2027 for customer cars joining the Robotaxi network.

The Verge - Tesla submitted its legal justification to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in October; the agency’s ruling remained pending.

WHY:

Techmeme (Bloomberg) - Tesla’s invitations are a step toward making the driverless car available to consumers.

The Verge - Musk’s 2024 pitch included the prospect of owners adding Cybercabs to Tesla’s Robotaxi network to earn income, but current purchase terms prohibit that use.

HOW:

The Verge - Tesla’s Cybercab is a two-seater with no steering wheel, pedals, or side mirrors; the article notes federal vehicle-safety standards require traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals.

The Verge - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a formal audit into Tesla’s self-certification of the vehicle. Tesla asked that its submitted legal justification be kept confidential.

The Verge - Tesla has not disclosed how it selects invited buyers or how many vehicles are designated for private sale versus its internal fleet.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 18:59 UTC)

Tesla invited select customers to buy its driverless Cybercab, advancing consumer access. The two-seat car costs about $30,000, plus a monthly autonomy subscription. Availability is limited to supported areas, and buyers cannot use it commercially.