GoKawiil
Tech News
Elon Musk announced on social media that Tesla will stop building the Cybertruck by mid-2027, freeing up factory space likely for additional Cybercab production. The angular stainless-steel pickup was unveiled in 2019 with a promised sub-$40,000 price and sales volumes comparable to the Model 3 and Y, targets it never came close to meeting.
Elon Musk said Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas gigafactory around mid-2026 to free up capacity for the Cybercab robotaxi. He did not specify whether Cybertruck manufacturing would move to another facility, but said existing vehicles would remain on the road for years. The Cybertruck, Model Y and Cybercab currently share the Texas plant, with deliveries of the pickup having begun in late 2023.
Elon Musk said Tesla will stop building the Cybertruck at its Texas factory next year to make room for producing more of its self-driving Cybercab vehicles. He did not clarify whether production would end entirely or move elsewhere, though lead engineer Wes Morrill suggested the truck is being discontinued, saying it 'lives on through Cybercab'. Musk later told a fan mourning the news that existing Cybertrucks would remain on the road for years.
Tesla executives said on the company's third-quarter earnings call that it plans to start selling its steering-wheel-free Cybercab to customers by the end of 2025, starting with a small volume. Currently all Cybercabs produced are going into Tesla's own robotaxi fleet, according to engineering VP Lars Moravy, with outside sales to scale gradually as the company learns about delivery and fleet management. The vehicle is also under federal safety review.
Tesla announced new financing arrangements totaling $30 billion: a $20 billion three-year delayed-draw term loan from Citibank, plus an $8 billion five-year revolving credit facility and a $2 billion 364-day revolving facility from Wells Fargo. In a regulatory filing, Tesla said it does not intend to draw on these facilities during 2025, and the company already projects at least $25 billion in capital expenditures for 2026.
Tesla has published emergency-response guidance instructing firefighters to contact two separate company support lines if they need to deal with a Cybataxi accident or need to move the vehicle. Because the Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, responders must first call support to gain control before accessing virtual onboard controls via the car's touchscreen. Tesla has added a QR code to the windshield's lower left corner as a reference guide for these procedures.
As robotaxis from multiple companies expand on public roads, firefighters, police and paramedics face a growing patchwork of different manufacturer-specific procedures, hotlines and access methods for handling incidents involving autonomous vehicles. Tesla's two-door Cybercab, which has no steering wheel and is built for full autonomy, highlights this gap since it lacks conventional controls first responders might expect to use in emergencies.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has partnered with SAE International on a new initiative called ASCEND, aimed at creating standardized, data-driven performance benchmarks for automated driving systems. The effort comes as regulators grapple with vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Zoox robotaxi, which lack pedals, steering wheels, and mirrors required under existing federal vehicle safety rules. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the goal is to build a framework that prioritizes safety without forcing the agency into reactive, case-by-case policymaking.
Shortly after Tesla began testing its pedal-free, steering-wheel-free Cybercab on Austin streets, the NHTSA opened an audit into whether the vehicle complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The agency has since issued a Special Order demanding Tesla certify under oath that the Cybercab meets these rules by September 30, with noncompliance risking fines up to $139 million and possible prison time for falsified claims.
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.
Tesla vehicles branded as Cybercabs have appeared on New York City streets equipped with steering wheels and human drivers, a stark contrast to the pedal-free, wheel-free design Elon Musk showcased in 2024. Officials say the cars are running a 'supervised' self-driving system that requires a person ready to take control at any moment, and Tesla has not disclosed how many vehicles are involved or how long the testing will last. The company has also not applied for autonomous vehicle testing permits with New York's DMV, suggesting this is a data-gathering exercise rather than a service launch.
As Tesla's autonomous Cybercab vehicles begin appearing in cities including Austin, New York, Washington DC, and San Diego, several personal injury law firms are already publishing marketing material aimed at potential accident victims. Firms such as Sarofiem and Antoun, Funes Law, and Angel Reyes and Associates are positioning themselves to handle liability claims even though no confirmed Cybercab accidents have occurred yet.