On September 3, Tesla introduced its two‑seat, fully autonomous Cybercab to the streets of Austin, Texas. The sleek vehicle operates without a steering wheel, pedals or mirrors, relying entirely on cameras and artificial intelligence to navigate.
Age rules for families
According to Tesla’s rider guide, children under 13 are not permitted to ride in a Cybercab at this time. Teens aged 13 to 17 may travel, but an adult must accompany them for the entire trip. By contrast, Tesla’s Model Y robotaxi service allows children ages 8 to 17 to ride with an adult, while riders under 8 are prohibited.
Parents should also note that the Cybercab lacks a LATCH or ISOFIX child‑restraint system. If a booster seat is needed, it must be secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, and the guide provides instructions for doing so.
Safety systems and emergency controls
The Cybercab is equipped with a suite of automatic safety responses. In the event of a collision, airbags deploy, doors unlock, hazard lights flash, interior lights illuminate, the high‑voltage battery can be disabled, windows move to a vent position, and the brakes engage to bring the vehicle to a stop. A two‑way connection to Tesla’s Robotaxi Support team is also activated.
Riders can end a trip themselves by pressing a dedicated Stop button located between the dome lights, selecting “Pull Over” on the touchscreen, or using the Robotaxi app. Tesla warns that an “immediate” pull‑over may still require the vehicle to travel to a safe stopping point.
Door releases and braking technology
Both doors feature electronic releases that open automatically when a passenger approaches, with a mechanical backup lever for power‑loss situations. Tesla cautions that using the mechanical release while the window is fully raised could damage the window or trim and, in rare cases, cause the glass to shatter.
Under the vehicle, Tesla has switched to a brake‑by‑wire system, using electronic actuators instead of traditional hydraulic lines. Elon Musk explained on X that electric brakes simplify the vehicle’s design by eliminating complex hydraulic plumbing.
Federal safety audit
One day after the launch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an audit query into Tesla’s certification of the Cybercab under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The audit will review roughly 1,000 Cybercabs to determine how the company demonstrated compliance, given the vehicle’s lack of conventional driver controls.
While the audit does not imply the Cybercab is unsafe, it does require Tesla to provide detailed technical documentation to satisfy the regulator.
What riders should know
Before stepping into a Cybercab, passengers are advised to locate the emergency Stop button, become familiar with the mechanical door release, and keep seat belts fastened for the entire ride. The vehicle can also charge devices via USB‑C ports that reportedly deliver up to 90 watts of power, though Tesla has not officially confirmed the exact output.
As the first driverless taxi service to operate without any manual controls, the Cybercab represents a significant shift in urban transportation. Austin residents can expect continued scrutiny from both the company and federal regulators as the service expands.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
