Tesla Cybercab Passes Florida Governor's Closed-Track Test at SunTrax Facility
The ride included simulated hazards like a child running into the street and unexpected traffic stops.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rode in a Tesla Cybercab at the state's SunTrax proving ground this week and called it "impressive" after the vehicle navigated simulated hazards on a closed test track.
What Happened
DeSantis posted on X that the Cybercab "successfully navigated all hazards — a kid running into the street, a crash with police stopping traffic, a Model S cutting us off." The demonstration took place at SunTrax, a 775-acre state-owned facility in Auburndale that Florida built specifically to test autonomous and connected vehicles before they reach public roads. Standing next to a gold Cybercab, DeSantis described the experience: "You go in there and you just sit. You have a screen. There's no steering wheel, no pedals." He paired his praise with a caveat, saying safety validation remains the gate before wider deployment.
Why It Matters
SunTrax is positioned as the only high-speed autonomous vehicle test track in the Southeast, capable of simulating rain, pedestrian crossings, hills and crowded urban conditions at highway speeds. Tesla has self-certified the Cybercab as SAE Level 4 under Texas law, where it entered volume production at Gigafactory Texas this spring. Florida's regulatory approach is among the most permissive for autonomous vehicles in the country, not requiring a human operator inside a fully autonomous car. A closed-track endorsement from a sitting governor doesn't change any current regulations, but it places Tesla's newest hardware in front of a state willing to move quickly on autonomous vehicle rules.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has been expanding its existing Model Y-based Robotaxi service in Florida, adding Miami in July followed by Orlando and Tampa two weeks later. Public road testing still maintains a safety monitor in the passenger seat. While DeSantis's endorsement signals potential regulatory goodwill, it remains separate from the incremental steps Tesla must take to expand beyond supervised testing on public roads.
