The Cybercab Makes Its Austin Debut

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is getting closer to its robotaxi dreams, or at least that's what the streets of Austin suggest. On Thursday, influencer Sawyer Merritt posted photos on X showing a gold Cybercab sporting Texas registration plates cruising around the city. According to Merritt, this marks the first time the futuristic cab has been tested on Austin roads. "The future is autonomous," he declared, presumably without a hint of irony.

This isn't Tesla's first rodeo in Austin when it comes to autonomous testing. A Model Y Robotaxi was recently spotted operating autonomously on city streets, sparking speculation that the Austin robotaxi fleet might go fully driverless soon. CEO Elon Musk later confirmed that testing was indeed underway in the city, keeping alive his ambitious goal of launching driverless operations by the end of the year.

Wait, Does That Cybercab Have a Steering Wheel?

Not everyone is impressed with Tesla's progress. Dan O'Dowd, founder of The Dawn Project, shared a video on Thursday showing a Cybercab being driven by an actual human, complete with a steering wheel and pedals. O'Dowd took a sarcastic swipe at what he called Tesla "cultists" getting excited about the vehicle.

"This is supposed to be Tesla's purpose-built robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals," O'Dowd said, before pointing out the obvious contradiction of it "being driven manually by a human being!"

Here's the thing though: the Cybercab in O'Dowd's video has California plates and was first spotted in a video posted late last month. It's not the same unit seen in Austin, though whether the Austin version also had a human driver remains unverified at this point.

The Steering Wheel Question Isn't Going Away

Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm has previously acknowledged that the company could manufacture Cybercabs with steering wheels and pedals to comply with regulatory requirements. That's a pretty significant hedge on the "fully autonomous" promise. Investor Ross Gerber has even suggested that Tesla could position the two-door Cybercab as an entry-level, affordable model in its lineup, which would be a fascinating pivot from purpose-built robotaxi to budget consumer vehicle.

California Throws a Wrench in the Works

Meanwhile, Tesla is dealing with a more immediate problem in California. A court recently ruled that the company's use of terms like "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" is deceptive, resulting in a 30-day suspension of its license to manufacture and sell vehicles in the state. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the California DMV, which apparently wasn't buying Tesla's argument that these names don't actually promise, you know, autopilot or full self-driving capabilities.

Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management called the ruling "absurd," arguing that Tesla clearly warns drivers to remain attentive when FSD is active. Munster has previously predicted that Tesla would expand driverless robotaxi operations to multiple cities next year, though that timeline might need some adjustment given the current regulatory climate.

International Reception Looks Friendlier

Not everyone is throwing regulatory roadblocks at Tesla's autonomous ambitions. South Korean National Assembly member Lee So-young praised the FSD system as a "completed technology" with the potential to transform daily life. She even said she'd encourage other leaders in South Korea to experience the technology firsthand, which is a refreshingly enthusiastic take compared to the skepticism Tesla faces in the U.S.

What the Stock Did

Tesla (TSLA) shares declined 4.62% to close at $467.26 on Thursday. The stock recovered slightly in after-hours trading, climbing 0.46% to $469.40. Tesla currently scores well on momentum and quality metrics while offering satisfactory growth, though its value proposition remains questionable at current prices. The stock shows favorable price trends across short, medium, and long-term timeframes.