Tesla is officially taking the training wheels off its autonomous future. After months of building modified test mules, the company has confirmed that the true, control-free Cybercab is now in mass production at Gigafactory Texas. In a promotional video shared on X, Tesla showcased a fleet of steering wheel-less vehicles rolling off the assembly line and autonomously navigating their way out of the factory and onto public streets.
"Cybercab has started production," Elon Musk added, marking a major milestone for the program. This news comes just days after footage from Giga Texas revealed over a dozen newly manufactured units sitting in the factory’s outbound lot. Notably, these vehicles feature the minimalist interior Tesla promised: no driver controls, no pedals, and no side mirrors.
The 2,500-Vehicle Question
While seeing the hardware is exciting, a massive question has been looming over the program: How will Tesla bypass federal red tape? The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently maintains a 2,500-vehicle-per-year, per-manufacturer limit on the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) that lack traditional controls.
However, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, has finally put those fears to rest. When asked on X if the 2,500-vehicle cap applies to the Cybercab, Moravy simply responded: "No."
No
— Lars (@larsmoravy) April 22, 2026
This exemption is a game-changer. It appears that instead of asking for a special permission slip, Tesla is self-certifying the Cybercab under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). An FMVSS sticker was previously spotted on a production unit, suggesting Tesla has found a way to meet safety standards without needing a traditional steering wheel, effectively allowing it to produce as many units as the factory can pump out.
Ramping Up the Robotaxi Network
This production surge arrives at the perfect time. Tesla recently expanded its Robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, offering fully unsupervised rides in both new markets. Currently, that fleet is made up of modified Model Ys, but with the Cybercab now in volume production, it won’t be long before these purpose-built vehicles join the network.
Tesla has already shown it is willing to pivot if needed — previously stating they would add pedals and wheels if regulations demanded it — but the "No" from Moravy suggests Plan A is full steam ahead. Recent footage of the car’s frunk even revealed specialized hardware like a massive fluid reservoir to supply the washers for each of its exterior cameras, showing just how much engineering has gone into this dedicated autonomous platform.
The Road Ahead
Tesla is clearly done with the "testing" phase. By mass-producing a vehicle that physically cannot be driven by a human, the company is doubling down on its Unsupervised Full Self-Driving software.
With production ramping up and the regulatory path seemingly cleared, the Cybercab is no longer a "someday" project. It is the backbone of Tesla's future business model, and if the current pace at Giga Texas is any indication, you might be hailing a wheel-less ride sooner than you think.
