Tesla offers select customers a Cybercab for personal use at $29,990

Tesla invites select buyers to purchase a Cybercab

Tesla has started inviting a small group of customers to buy a Cybercab for personal use, according to The Verge. The offer was announced by Tesla's Robotaxi account on X, which shared screenshots of the order page and the invitation email.

The two-seater has no steering wheel and costs $29,990. However, it will only be sold to people who live in cities where Tesla currently runs its Robotaxi service, and the company warns that initial availability is limited.

The subscription that keeps the car alive

Alongside the purchase price, buyers must pay a mandatory Autonomy Subscription of $299 per month. The Verge notes this covers autonomous driving, maintenance and towing, but not insurance.

Because the car has no manual controls, stopping the subscription leaves the vehicle unusable on public roads. Over five years, the fee adds $17,940, bringing the baseline cost to roughly $47,600 before taxes, charging and insurance. That is more than a new Model 3 or Model Y, both of which can be driven anywhere.

When Elon Musk introduced the Cybercab in 2024, he did not mention any subscription fee, and the price he suggested was under $30,000.

No earning money from your own robotaxi

At the 2024 We, Robot event, Musk suggested owners could add their Cybercab to Tesla's ride-hailing fleet and earn income from it. The current order terms forbid commercial use of any kind, so owners cannot use the car for Uber, DoorDash or Tesla's own network.

Tesla AI chief Ashok Elluswamy has suggested the second quarter of 2027 as a possible date for letting customer cars join the fleet. Until then, buyers pay the monthly fee with no way to offset it. Tesla also requires a $1,000 non-refundable deposit for a December delivery window that is not guaranteed.

Open questions on safety rules and liability

Several unresolved issues surround the offer, as The Verge points out. The Cybercab lacks steering wheels, pedals and side mirrors, features required by current federal vehicle safety standards. Tesla has not explained how it will sell a car that does not comply, or how insurers will cover a vehicle with no human driver.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a formal review of Tesla's decision to certify the car itself. Tesla submitted its legal justification in October and asked for it to remain confidential. Deposits are being taken while that ruling is still pending, so the car's street legality is not yet settled.

Tesla has also not said how invited buyers are chosen, or how many cars are set aside for private sale.

Musk's broader promises and the fleet so far

On X, Musk suggested a much wider rollout, subject to regulatory approval. He often presents regulation as the main obstacle to his robotaxi timelines. He also called his own company's $299 monthly fee too high, saying it should be closer to the $99 per month Tesla charges for its Full Self-Driving subscription.

The Cybercab joined Tesla's Model Y-based Robotaxi service in Austin in September. The crowd-sourced Robotaxi Tracker counts 278 Cybercabs in operation, about 40 percent of the fleet. Musk spent much of his online commentary teasing YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who had pledged to shave his head if Tesla sold a Cybercab under $30,000 before 2027. Brownlee believes his hair is safe.