Tesla has begun testing its Cybercab robotaxi at Gigafactory Texas in Austin, utilizing the site's private roads.
The company previously showcased the Cybercab at Warner Bros studio lot, which mimicked a city environment but operated on private roads. This testing method circumvents the need for self-driving test permits, as Texas regulations are less stringent compared to California.
Current regulations classify Tesla's supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a level 2 driver assist system, requiring driver oversight. The Cybercab, however, lacks a steering wheel or pedals, presenting unique testing challenges.
During a recent earnings call, CEO Elon Musk and head of self-driving Ashok Elluswamy indicated that Tesla aims for the FSD system to achieve over 600,000 miles between disengagements by Q2 2025. The company plans to launch an unsupervised self-driving system ahead of the Cybercab's market introduction in 2026.
Currently, Tesla's data shows a distance of 190 miles between critical disengagements.