The future of autonomous transportation has taken a major leap as Tesla officially begins production of its driverless “robotaxi.” CEO Elon Musk confirmed the news on Friday, sharing a video of the new vehicle, known as the Cybercab, rolling off the factory floor.
The Cybercab is a specialized electric vehicle designed without a steering wheel or pedals, relying entirely on self-driving technology. Tesla expects to commence volume production of both the taxi and the Tesla Semi later this year.
Profit surge fuels autonomous driving goals
The production announcement comes on the heels of impressive financial results for the carmaker. Tesla reported first-quarter profits of $477 million, exceeding the expectations of many market analysts.
While the vehicle was first unveiled in 2024, the start of production at the Giga Texas plant marks a significant milestone for the company. Musk had previously predicted that the autonomous service would become widely available by 2027.
Invitations sent to early access taxi users
Tesla has already begun testing the waters by offering invitation-only robotaxi services to select users in Austin, Texas. These “early access” participants are providing real-world data to help refine the autonomous navigation systems.
The company shared photos of employees celebrating the first Cybercab to leave the production line. This development puts Tesla at the forefront of the race to dominate the global autonomous ride-hailing market.
