Tesla opens $29,990 Cybercab orders with $299 monthly fee

What Tesla is offering

Tesla began inviting a limited group of US customers to order its Cybercab on 13 November 2026, according to Notebookcheck. The autonomous two-seater costs $29,990 and has no steering wheel or pedals. Buyers must pay a $1,000 deposit that cannot be refunded, and deliveries are estimated to start in December 2026.

This marks a change in direction for the company. Tesla had originally presented the Cybercab as a vehicle for robotaxi fleets rather than for private owners.

The subscription you cannot avoid

Owning the car is only part of the cost. The Cybercab needs an active Autonomy Subscription to work at all, because that service covers its self-driving features. The first month is included, after which the fee is $299 per month, adding $3,588 a year to the cost of ownership.

Tesla's subscription agreement states that the vehicle cannot operate without the service. Owners must also keep up with required inspections and maintenance.

The company can raise the price after giving notice, and it can restrict access in certain situations. That means someone who has paid for the car outright could still be left unable to use it.

Limits on where and how it drives

The Cybercab can only drive in areas that Tesla has approved, so ownership does not bring the freedom to travel anywhere in the US. The agreement also blocks commercial use without Tesla's permission, which stops owners from putting their cars on ride-hailing or delivery platforms.

Elon Musk has said that wider availability across the country depends on regulators giving the go-ahead. According to TechCrunch, as reported by Notebookcheck, US safety regulators are looking into whether the vehicle meets federal safety rules.

Even Musk thinks the fee is too high

The Tesla chief executive has publicly questioned the monthly charge. TechCrunch reports that Musk called the $299 fee too high and suggested moving it closer to what Tesla charges for its existing assisted-driving and connectivity subscriptions.

No revised price has been confirmed, so buyers ordering now should assume the current terms apply.

Why it matters

The Cybercab is an unusual product: a car customers can buy outright, but whose ability to move stays tied to a continuing payment. If Tesla changes the terms or withdraws service, the vehicle's usefulness depends on the company rather than the owner.

The invitation-only rollout also means most buyers will have to wait. Anyone considering the car should weigh the subscription, the geographic limits and the open regulatory questions alongside the $29,990 sticker price.