Tesla Now Has 300+ Cybercabs in Austin, Dallas Rides Next
Tesla VP of AI Ashok Elluswamy confirmed Dallas is the next target for Cybercab deployment, though no specific launch date was provided.
Tesla has expanded its autonomous ride-hailing fleet in Austin to over 300 Cybercabs, marking an eightfold increase since public rides began last month. The company has also signaled that Dallas is the next city slated for Cybercab service.
What Happened
According to an announcement from Tesla’s official Robotaxi account on X, the company now has "300+ Cybercabs serving Austin." This represents an "8x increase in 30 days" from the approximately 38 vehicles initially deployed when public rides launched. Independent tracking based on Texas registration data had previously estimated the fleet at around 169 Cybercabs earlier this month, suggesting Tesla’s internal counts reflect a larger operational scale than external observers had tracked. Austin remains the only city where riders can currently hail a steering-wheel-less Cybercab, alongside unsupervised Model Y robotaxis within a 246-square-mile service area.
Why It Matters
Tesla’s rapid fleet expansion in Austin indicates a strategy to scale autonomous operations quickly, even as federal regulators scrutinize the safety and certification of the steering-wheel-less vehicle. Tesla VP of AI Ashok Elluswamy confirmed on X that "Dallas soon" will see Cybercab rides, though he did not provide a specific launch date. Dallas is currently one of Tesla’s seven active Robotaxi markets, operating fully unsupervised Model Y rides in a 31-square-mile area centered on Downtown Dallas. The choice of Dallas comes as a surprise, as recent sightings of nearly 200 Cybercabs at a Tesla lot in Houston had led to speculation that Houston or Miami might be the next deployment sites. This expansion proceeds despite an ongoing NHTSA probe, for which Tesla recently received a 30-day extension until October 30 to answer 21 questions regarding the Cybercab’s certification and commercial scaling plans.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has significantly scaled its Cybercab presence in Austin to over 300 vehicles and has confirmed Dallas as the next target for expansion. The company is moving forward with deployment plans while awaiting the outcome of the NHTSA’s investigation into the vehicle’s certification and commercial operations.
