Tesla confirms when $30,000 Cybercab will go on sale, but there's a major catch regarding who can actually buy one
Published on Oct 29, 2026 at 7:33 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 29, 2026 at 7:33 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
Tesla has confirmed when the $30,000 Cybercab will go on sale, but there’s a catch about who can buy one.
On an earnings call, a Tesla higher-up put out a date about when the self-driving car will be available to the public.
Let’s just say, it’s sooner than you might think.
This has led to some skepticism among YouTubers familiar with the topic.
There’s been a lot of buzz about the Tesla Cybercab in recent years
Tesla’s robotaxi has been quite the headliner grabber these past few years, hasn’t it?
Whether it’s a man jumping in front of one to test out its tech or Marques Brownlee making a bet with Tesla on its delivery date, there’s been no shortage of coverage.
And it’s understandable, of course.
‘Tesla’ and ‘Self-driving car’ are both topics of great interest in the automotive sphere after all.
But one question still remains – when will we be seeing these Cybercabs available to buy?
There’s been a lot of promises about when production would start, but as of yet, no mass roll-out.
Now, it appears that an update has been provided.
When is the Tesla Cybercab supposedly going to be available to buy?
The Electric Viking presented the update in a recent video on his channel.
“In an earnings call, engineering boss Lars Moravy said the company’s trying to get the Cybercabs into customer’s hands before the end of this year,” he explained.
Given that we’re a mere two months off from bidding 2026 farewell, this would be a very quick turnaround.
As such, The Electric Viking has his doubts.
“Tesla’s self-driving software for privately owned cars isn’t expected to go fully unsupervised until the middle of next year,” he said.
“So that means a Cybercab you buy in December can only drive itself in places that regulators have already approved – pretty simple streets, city streets.”
What’s the catch?
Leaving aside whether or not Tesla can deliver on what Moravy has promised, there is one thing worth highlighting about this whole thing.
A majority of Cybercabs will still be owned by Tesla.
On that same earnings call that Moravy was speaking on, Elon Musk said it would ‘primarily’ be offered up as a ‘transport-as-a-service’.
“The vast majority of the CyberCab stuff will be essentially Tesla-owned and transport-as-a-service,” Musk said.
Tesla Cybercab Timeline
October 2024: The Cybercab is unveiled.
November 2024: It’s spotted being tested on roads around Giga Texas.
Late 2025: Spotted on public roads for the first time.
February 2026: Tesla announces that the first production unit has been built.
September 2026: Paid rides begin in Austin.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
