Tesla has officially begun production of its long-awaited Cybercab at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. However, in an unexpected twist, CEO Elon Musk is signaling caution about the robotaxi's deployment.
The news was announced Thursday on X, with Tesla sharing a video from inside the factory. But rather than celebrate, Musk noted that the company still needs to perfect its autonomous driving technology before the Cybercab can operate as a true robotaxi.
"Solving autonomy is the real challenge," Musk said during an earnings call. "We're getting closer, but we're not there yet." The comments mark a shift from Musk's typically bullish predictions about Tesla's self-driving capabilities.
Analysts say the cautious tone reflects growing pressure from regulators and the reality that Level 5 autonomy remains elusive. The Cybercab is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, meaning it cannot be operated manually.
Musk emphasized that production is primarily for testing and validation. He declined to give a timeline for when customers might be able to ride in one, something he has historically been eager to do.
The Cybercab's launch has been delayed multiple times, and investors are becoming impatient. Tesla shares dipped slightly following the announcement. Still, the start of production is a milestone for the company, demonstrating that it can manufacture a vehicle purpose-built for autonomy.
"We're not going to put something on the road that isn't safe," Musk added. "In fact, we're going to make sure it's safer than a human driver — a lot safer — before we let it loose."