Tesla Cybercab finally hits the roads after two-year wait but Im not convinced its driverless cars will catch Waymo, whatever the Robotaxi data says

Date:
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:53:58 +0000

Description:
Tesla launches its purpose-built Cybercab in Austin, Texas but its one
million Robotaxi miles look tiny next to Waymo.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Tesla's Cybercab had a quiet launch event, but Elon Musk didn't attend It's unclear exactly how many Cybercabs will be in circulation Tesla says its Robotaxi service has driven one million unsupervised miles Almost two years after Tesla first showcased its driverless Cybercab prototype a vehicle that ditches traditional pedals and a steering wheel in favor of fully autonomous operation the company has quietly introduced production versions to its fleet of driverless taxis in Austin, Texas.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles records show that Tesla now has 420 autonomous vehicles registered in the state, including 45 Cybercabs,
according to Reuters . That figure includes the companys wider Robotaxi
fleet, rather than just the new purpose-built cars.

However, despite launching a Cybercab-specific website to coincide with the launch, there was no official word on how many eye-catching gold machines
will be put to work in Austin immediately.

Elon Musk didnt attend the low-key launch event, while reports suggest just a handful of Tesla influencers were on site, some of whom were allowed to take the first rides. You may like Teslas driverless Robotaxi has a traffic-post problem, and the timing couldnt be worse Want a ride in Uber's first driverless London taxis? Here's how to do it Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving face scrutiny after two fatal crashes BREAKING: Tesla has officially started offering Cybercab rides to the public.Ive been waiting years to say that!I took one of the world's first public rides. The cabin is comfortable and spacious, the suspension is soft, and FSD is VERY smooth. Its an incredible vehicle. pic.twitter.com/XBzJI9EVQm September 4, 2026 Unfortunately, there was no further information on how the general public can increase their chances of hailing a Cybercab, as opposed to a 'standard' Robotaxi, which often still operate with safety monitors behind the wheel.

Whats more, Tesla's new dedicated web page says that children under 13 years old wont be able to ride in a Cybercab, while those aged 1317 will have to ride with an accompanying adult. The vehicle itself can also only seat two people. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Interestingly, the launch event did reveal more information about the
Cybercab itself, including the fact that it is among the first vehicles in
the world to use a dry brake-by-wire system that eschews traditional brake lines and hydraulic fluid, with each brake caliper instead getting its own electronically controlled actuator.

This, alongside the lack of traditional pedals and steer-by-wire steering, reduces the complexity of the overall build, resulting in what Tesla says is the lightest and most efficient vehicle it has manufactured to date.
Analysis: Robotaxi data suggests Teslas driverless cars could catch Waymo, in theory (Image credit: Tesla) During the Cybercab launch, Tesla VP of Autopilot/AI Ashok Elluswamy stated that the company had achieved one million miles of unsupervised Robotaxi operation. What to read next Tesla relies on cameras for self-driving, and Waymo says that isnt enough This Chinese EV wants to take on Tesla here's why I'm still not convinced I tested the Volvo EX60 and BMW iX3 and range anxiety is officially dead

This represents a massive jump from the previous figure, which was announced in late July of this year and put the total at 380,000 miles with zero
notable incidents.

The increase of 620,000 miles in the last six weeks represents a rapid
ramp-up in unsupervised Robotaxi operations although Tesla stops short of stating whether these were real, paid-for passenger rides or whether that number also included testing.

If the numbers are to be believed, Tesla is now adding roughly 148,000 unsupervised Robotaxi miles per week, a dramatically faster rate than it was just weeks ago.

But its key competitor, Waymo , remains in another league when it comes to cumulative real-world autonomous driving experience. Waymo passed 100 million rider-only miles in 2025 and has since passed the 200 million mark.

Crucially, Waymo describes these as rider-only miles autonomous miles driven in cities where it operates its ride-hailing service rather than a combination of conventional human-supervised testing and autonomous
operation.

Tesla seemingly has an advantage in the fact that it designs and manufactures its own purpose-built vehicle in the Cybercab, giving it control over both
the car and the autonomous driving technology.

Waymo, meanwhile, works with vehicle manufacturers including Zeekr to integrate its Waymo Driver technology. But that doesnt seem to be slowing its deployment. Just this month, Waymo added another three cities to its list of areas served, taking the tally up to 14.

Teslas public-facing fully autonomous rides, meanwhile, remain far more limited in scale, with Austin remaining its main focus, as its San Francisco operation till faces regulatory road blocks.

It feels like even with the purpose-built Cybercab finally joining the fleet, Tesla has a lot of catching up to do. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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