Tesla opens Cybercab pre-orders for personal use with $299 monthly fee

What Tesla announced

Tesla said on Friday evening that a group of select customers can now pre-order the Cybercab, the company's two-seat autonomous vehicle, for personal use. According to TechCrunch, the announcement came without much detail at first, but information quickly emerged as buyers explored the order page.

The vehicle carries a price tag of $29,990, but ownership comes with a recurring cost: buyers must also pay $299 per month to operate it. Tesla has not framed this as a temporary launch charge, and the company has not explained in the announcement how long the fee will apply.

Geofenced driving and Texas deliveries

Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee posted details from the order page after the announcement. Buyers must accept delivery in one of a handful of cities in Texas, and the Cybercab will only drive within certain geofenced areas, meaning zones defined in software where the vehicle is permitted to operate on its own.

The estimated delivery date listed for pre-orders is December 2026. Ashok Elluswamy, a Tesla executive, added context on the restrictions, saying the Cybercab will work unsupervised inside the same locations covered by Tesla's robotaxi service, in that case serving the owners' own travel needs rather than paying passengers.

Musk calls the fee too high

Elon Musk responded directly to Brownlee's post about the restrictions and costs. He said the Cybercab will be available nationwide as the company receives regulatory approval, which suggests the Texas-only launch reflects state rules rather than a permanent plan.

On pricing, Musk said the monthly fee is too high. He wrote that it should match the cost of Tesla Full Self-Driving and connectivity on other models, which he put at roughly $115 per month. That is a notable public concession from the chief executive about his own company's pricing, though Tesla has not said whether the fee will change.

Cybertruck output shifts to Cybercab

The pre-order opening follows a difficult period for Tesla's earlier angular vehicle. Tesla recently announced that it will stop Cybertruck production next year after sales fell far short of projections, according to TechCrunch.

The freed-up factory capacity will be used to build more Cybercabs instead. Tesla has also previously said it aims to start selling Cybercabs by the end of the year, so the pre-order programme appears to be part of that push.

What it means for buyers

For now, personal Cybercab ownership is a narrow proposition: a Texas delivery, geofenced driving, a December 2026 wait and a subscription-style monthly charge on top of the purchase price. Buyers considering a pre-order should weigh whether their local area is covered and whether the monthly fee might change.

Musk's comments point to wider availability in future, but that depends on regulatory approval, which has not yet been confirmed. Anyone interested should follow Tesla's official announcements for updates on coverage areas and pricing.