Tesla begins taking Cybercab orders from select customers

Tesla has started inviting some customers to buy its Cybercab, bringing the automaker’s driverless vehicle closer to personal use. The company said Friday that the two-seat car costs $29,990, with a required $299 monthly subscription for its autonomous-driving service.

The gold-colored Cybercab has butterfly doors, but no steering wheel or pedals. Until now, Tesla had used the vehicle in its robotaxi fleet in a limited number of U.S. cities.

CEO Elon Musk said the Cybercab could eventually be available nationwide, depending on regulatory approvals. He also acknowledged that the subscription price is too high, saying it should be closer to the roughly $115 a month Tesla charges for Full Self-Driving software and connectivity services on other models.

Tesla vice president of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy has previously said the company plans to begin selling Cybercabs by the end of this year. The company’s head of artificial intelligence said availability is expected to expand to the same cities served by Tesla’s robotaxi fleet, including Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa.

Tesla has promoted the idea of fully autonomous cars for years. It began offering paid rides in a small Cybercab fleet in Austin in September, though the company’s self-driving plans have faced repeated delays.

Federal safety regulators are also reviewing whether Tesla properly certified the Cybercab under motor vehicle safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an audit in September. Tesla has told the agency it believes the vehicle meets federal requirements.

The Cybercab entered production earlier this year, but remains a small part of Tesla’s operations. The company has reported installed annual production capacity of more than 125,000 vehicles.

Tesla plans to end Cybertruck production at its Texas factory around the middle of next year as it shifts attention toward making Cybercabs.