GoKawiilTesla Cybercabs in Austin take hour-long detours to avoid highways
A Cybercab rider in Austin reported that a trip meant to take ten minutes stretched into a 70-minute ordeal, with the vehicle initially heading the wrong way before winding through east Austin. Electrek attributes the meandering routes to the fact that Tesla's robotaxis cannot yet use highways and operate only within a limited, pre-mapped geofenced zone, unlike Waymo which already drives on highways in some cities.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The episode highlights how far behind Tesla's driverless system still lags rivals like Waymo in handling real-world routing, despite the hype around its purpose-built Cybercab. Since the ride-hailing app only shows fare estimates rather than trip-time projections, riders have no warning that they may face absurdly long detours, undermining trust in the service's reliability.
- A Cybercab ride in Austin took 70 minutes instead of the expected 10 due to a convoluted route.
- Tesla's robotaxis currently avoid highways and railroad crossings, forcing longer detours.
- The ride app doesn't show estimated trip duration, leaving riders unaware of potential delays.
Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS Navigator — If robotaxi routing algorithms are taking you on scenic tours you never asked for, having your own reliable GPS navigator gives you a second opinion on the best route. The Garmin DriveSmart offers real-time traffic and voice-guided navigation so you can spot a nonsensical detour before it turns your ten-minute trip into an hour-long ordeal. It's a handy backup for anyone increasingly relying on autonomous rides.
See Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS Navigator on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: futurism.com — Frank Landymore, 2026-09-16
Published there as: “Cybercabs Are Taking Psychotic Routes That Turn Tiny Trips Around the Neighborhood Into Hour-Long Nightmares”
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