Tesla targets Cybercab sales by year-end despite safety audit

Tesla says it wants to begin selling its Cybercab by the end of 2026, moving its steering-wheel-free robotaxi beyond the small fleet that began giving paid rides in Austin in September. The two-seat vehicle is built to drive itself and is meant mainly for ride-hailing rather than personal ownership; Tesla says it will start small as it learns how customer ownership and fleet management work. The timing is uncertain because the U.S. safety regulator is auditing Tesla’s claim that the vehicle complies with federal rules, some written around human controls such as pedals, mirrors and a steering wheel. The test is whether a purpose-built autonomous vehicle can move from a company-run service into customers’ hands while rules designed for conventional cars are still being updated.