At a private, closed-door event in Austin, Texas, Tesla officially unveiled its Cybercab, a two-seat autonomous vehicle designed for self-driving ride-hailing services. Unlike previous high-profile product launches, this event was low-key, with no livestreams and no public fanfare. Attendees were required to sign non-disclosure agreements and abide by an embargo, meaning details about the event couldn’t be shared until after it concluded. Some pro-Tesla social media accounts, not invited to the event, expressed concerns, with one criticizing Tesla for "dropping the ball" in its approach to autonomous vehicle development. As of this week, 45 Cybercab vehicles are registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, though it remains unclear how many will be available for commercial use immediately. Tesla has been testing the vehicle in various cities for months and recently allowed some influencers in Austin to experience the Cybercab for content creation. A new website dedicated to the Robotaxi service was also launched, outlining guidelines for riders, including a rule that prohibits children under the age of 13 from riding in the vehicle. Tesla shared videos showcasing the interior, crash test results, and accessibility features, though one video depicting a wheelchair user manually folding and stowing their own wheelchair raised some confusion among viewers. Tesla now operates 256 unsupervised autonomous vehicles across six cities, according to Robotaxi Tracker. This number pales in comparison to Alphabet’s Waymo, which operates around 4,000 autonomous vehicles in 14 cities. The Cybercab, first introduced in 2024, is a two-seat sedan with futuristic gullwing-style doors and eight cameras for navigation. Unlike traditional vehicles, it lacks a steering wheel, pedals, mirrors, and conventional sensors like radar and lidar. It is also the lightest and most energy-efficient vehicle Tesla has ever produced, with a curb weight of 3,113 pounds and a compact 48kWh battery. According to Environmental Protection Agency documents, the Cybercab uses a single front-mounted motor with 219 horsepower and front-wheel drive. Tesla has been running a robotaxi service in Texas and Florida using modified Model Y vehicles, some of which are supervised by human drivers and others not. The Cybercab marks a new phase for the company as it enters the market against more established competitors like Waymo. Elon Musk had previously suggested the Cybercab could be available for purchase at a price as low as $30,000, but no official release date has been set. A new online form allows interested parties to sign up for "future Robotaxi opportunities," such as purchasing fleets of Cybercabs or building infrastructure for mobility services. However, Tesla has faced legal challenges over claims of misleading the public about its self-driving capabilities. The company’s $99-per-month Full Self-Driving feature is currently a Level 2 driver-assist system, requiring human oversight. Musk has stated that "unsupervised" FSD may be available by the end of 2026, though complex road conditions could delay the rollout. Despite these challenges, Tesla’s stock has risen in recent days, with analysts linking the growth to the company’s robotaxi ambitions.