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Tesla began inviting select customers to order its Cybercab for personal use on November 13, 2026, according to Engadget. The two-seater costs $29,990 and requires a $299 monthly "Autonomy Subscription" to operate. Deliveries are estimated for December 2026, and the order terms carry tight limits on where and how the car can be used.
Key facts
- Price: $29,990, plus a mandatory $299 per month subscription, or $3,588 per year, per Digital Trends.
- Reserving one takes a $1,000 non-refundable deposit, with delivery estimated for December 2026.
- The car has no steering wheel or pedals and, per Engadget, will not work without the subscription.
- Digital Trends reports buyers must accept delivery in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio or Fort Worth, limited to one car each.
- The Verge says over five years the subscription adds $17,940, for roughly $47,600 before taxes, charging and insurance.
What the terms say
Electrek reviewed the posted agreement (version 20261112). It says Tesla can change the subscription price with one month's notice, and can suspend or cancel it for unauthorized or inappropriate use. Three or more "strikeouts" trigger a one-week suspension of autonomous driving, without prorated payment.
The Cybercab may only operate inside Tesla's Robotaxi geofences, which Tesla can expand, reduce or relocate. Tesla can also remotely restrict or control the car. Cabin camera image data is kept for 30 days by default, according to Electrek.
Use is personal only. Electrek and The Verge both report that owners cannot put the car on Tesla's Robotaxi network, Uber or delivery apps. That cuts against the passive-income pitch from Tesla's 2024 "We, Robot" event. Tesla AI chief Ashok Elluswamy has floated Q2 2027 as a possible target for letting customer cars join the network.
Musk calls the fee too high
According to TechCrunch, Elon Musk replied to YouTuber Marques Brownlee that the fee is "too high" and should be closer to $115 per month, in line with Full Self-Driving and connectivity pricing. He also said the Cybercab will be available nationwide as regulatory approval arrives. Digital Trends notes there is no word on whether Tesla will cut the fee.
Regulatory and liability questions
The Verge and Engadget both point to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration audit query into how Tesla self-certified the Cybercab, which lacks conventional manual controls. The Verge reports Tesla submitted its justification in October and asked that it be kept confidential. The ruling is still pending while Tesla takes deposits.
The Verge also says the subscription covers autonomous driving, maintenance and towing but excludes insurance. Tesla has not explained how insurers will underwrite a car with no human driver, how liability is split after a crash, or how invitees are chosen.
What to watch
- The NHTSA decision on the Cybercab's certification.
- Whether Tesla changes the $299 fee after Musk's comments.
- Whether December deliveries happen, and how many go to private buyers versus Tesla's own fleet.
- Whether customer cars can join the Robotaxi network around Q2 2027.
Electrek's editorial take is sharply critical, arguing owners hold little control over the car. Digital Trends notes that the offer follows Musk telling investors weeks earlier that most Cybercabs would be owned and operated by Tesla.
