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A month into passenger service, the driverless two-seater faces pickup problems and a federal safety inquiry. More authorized cars have not yet translated into more operating cities.
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Tesla’s Austin robotaxi operation is expanding in authorized vehicle count, not yet in demonstrated geographic reach: service remains confined to Austin, and Texas records do not show how many cars are available to riders at a given time. The first month also brought reported pickup and door problems, while NHTSA is examining the control-free vehicle’s compliance with federal standards. Tesla still lacks a California permit for driverless public-road service, so fleet growth alone does not establish readiness for broader deployment.
Texas records showed 169 Cybercabs authorized for commercial use on Oct. 2, up from 45 on Sept. 3; authorization is not a count of cars available to passengers.
Riders reported long waits, misplaced pickups and drop-offs, and doors or trunks that did not close properly; one rider said waits often exceeded 45 minutes early on.
Tesla’s Texas fleet also includes 420 Model Y vehicles with automated-driving systems; Waymo had 1,154 autonomous vehicles authorized statewide on Oct. 2.
Elon Musk said Tesla’s robotaxis would be “very, very widespread” in the U.S. by the end of 2026. On October 3, the Cybercab’s first-month tally shows growth within a narrow footprint: 169 vehicles authorized for commercial use in Texas, up from 45, with service still confined to Austin.
CNBC’s Lora Kolodny reported the increase using Texas Department of Motor Vehicles records through October 2. The figures measure authorization, not how many Cybercabs are available to passengers at any given moment. The two-seat vehicle entered Austin service on September 3, 2026.
Paying passengers have posted complaints about long waits, misplaced pickups and drop-offs, and butterfly doors or trunks that did not close properly. These are problems with completing an ordinary trip, not just with the vehicle’s driving.
Austin rider and former Tesla intern Ethan McKanna told CNBC he had taken about 30 Cybercab rides. He praised the smooth drive and private space, including its large screen and media controls, but said pickups and drop-offs were not yet refined.
McKanna said waits during the initial rollout often exceeded 45 minutes, although they had shortened in recent weeks as demand became more balanced. He also found the outward-extending butterfly doors less convenient than conventional or sliding doors.
Texas public records showed 45 Cybercabs at the September 3 unveiling and 169 by October 2, according to CNBC.
Cybercabs are only part of Tesla’s Texas robotaxi operation. Its fleet also includes 420 Model Y vehicles with Tesla automated-driving systems. For comparison, Waymo had 1,154 autonomous vehicles authorized for commercial use in Texas on October 2. Those statewide totals are not counts of vehicles serving Austin alone.
The Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals. After its launch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an audit query to examine compliance with federal safety standards. Tesla received an extension to the original September 30 deadline for answering safety questions, an agency spokesperson told CNBC.
CNBC reported no significant safety incidents or collisions involving a Cybercab in Austin since the commercial debut. First responders nevertheless have concerns about handling vehicles without manual driving controls and with unusual doors.
Austin Fire Captain Matt McElearney said Tesla provided detailed emergency guidelines and comprehensive instruction. He wants regulation requiring another way for public safety personnel to move, steer or shut down control-free robotaxis.
McElearney also called for safety testing throughout a vehicle’s lifespan because software bugs or updates can change its performance. Tesla did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Expansion also requires permissions outside Texas. Tesla still had not obtained permits to operate on California public roads without a human at the wheel.
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