Tesla Cybercab: price under $30,000 and release in 2027

The first Tesla Cybercab has officially rolled off the production lines at Gigafactory Texas. Elon Musk confirmed it on X with a photo of the teams gathered around this revolutionary autonomous vehicle, without a steering wheel or pedals. Even better: Tesla’s boss reaffirms his commitment to a price below $30,000 and availability before 2027.

Between a bold technological promise and legitimate skepticism given Tesla’s history of delays, what is the real status of this robotaxi project? I propose we take stock of this news that is already generating a lot of buzz.

The first Cybercab officially rolls off the Texas lines

Tesla officially announced this major step via a post on X. The photo shows smiling employees gathered around the first Cybercab produced at Gigafactory Texas in Austin. Elon Musk did not fail to congratulate his teams for this symbolic milestone, marking the transition from demonstration prototype to actual production.

It is February 2026, and the futuristic design seen at the “We, Robot” event in October 2024 is confirmed: only two seats, sleek lines like a space coupe, and above all, the complete absence of a steering wheel and pedals, which defines the vehicle’s identity.

This first unit is obviously symbolic. We are far from mass production, but it is a strong signal: Tesla is moving from promise to industrial reality. For me, who closely follows the brand’s evolution, it’s already a victory in itself, even if the hardest part is yet to come.

Under $30,000: a confirmation that makes waves

During the initial presentation in October 2024, Elon Musk announced a target price below $30,000. Many saw it as yet another marketing promise. However, when recently questioned on X, Tesla’s boss confidently reaffirmed this price range.

This positioning is frankly disruptive. As a reminder, a Model 3 currently starts around $40,000 to $45,000. The Cybercab would therefore be significantly more affordable, which may seem paradoxical for a vehicle integrating full autonomy technology.

How does Tesla justify this price? Several factors explain these savings:

• Absence of steering wheel, pedals, and complex dashboard
• Simplified production thanks to the “Unboxed” method
• Dedicated robotaxi design, without compromises related to conventional use
• Maximum optimization to reduce manufacturing costs

This democratization strategy reflects the spirit of the $25,000 compact car Tesla envisioned a few years ago. The Cybercab clearly aligns with this desire to make electric and autonomous mobility accessible to the widest possible audience.

One question remains open: does this price include potential subsidies, or is it the final customer price? Tesla’s history encourages us to remain cautious, but on paper, the ambition is appealing.

MKBHD’s bold bet against Musk’s promises

If you follow tech news, you’re certainly familiar with Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD. This ultra-influential YouTuber with over 19 million subscribers made a public bet right after the October 2024 event: “I’ll shave my head if Tesla delivers the Cybercab before 2027 for under $30,000.”

Why such skepticism? Because MKBHD is well aware of Tesla’s history of delays. The Cybertruck took years to arrive, the Semi accumulated postponements, and as with the Tesla Roadster, whose production is slow to start, Elon Musk’s promises don’t always materialize within the announced deadlines.

Add to that the technical complexity of Full Self-Driving without any safety driver, regulatory hurdles in most US states, and the need to prove absolute reliability before any commercialization.

The Tesla community has obviously seized on the debate, with well-defined camps between unconditional optimists and pragmatic realists. Today, with this first vehicle rolling off the factory floor in February 2026, MKBHD might be starting to wonder if he’ll really have to keep his hair promise…

A progressive but ambitious production ramp-up

The “Unboxed” method at the heart of the strategy

Tesla is betting everything on its famous “Unboxed” method to produce the Cybercab. Concretely, it involves modular assembly rather than a traditional production line. The vehicle’s different modules are assembled in parallel, then brought together at the end of the process.

The advantages? Increased flexibility, significant cost reduction, and space savings in factories. Elon Musk mentioned an S-curve production: a slow start between April and June 2026, then a gradual acceleration, before a rapid ramp-up once the method is perfectly mastered.

Comparison with Optimus and the Cybertruck

This approach is reminiscent of the one adopted for the Optimus humanoid robot: progressive industrial learning rather than a production big bang. Tesla has also learned lessons from the Cybertruck, whose launch was chaotic before reaching a satisfactory ramp-up in mid-2024.

The stated goal? To avoid past mistakes by accepting an incompressible learning phase, while maintaining an ambitious course for the future. In my opinion, this is a more mature strategy than the unrealistic promises of Tesla’s early days.

Waymo, regulation, and challenges to overcome

Let’s talk about the real obstacles. Today, Tesla already uses Model Ys in robotaxi mode in Austin and the Bay Area, but with a safety driver on board. The Cybercab, however, will have to operate in full autonomy, without any human intervention possible since there is no steering wheel or pedals.

The comparison with Waymo is inevitable. Google’s competitor is already operational in several US cities with its LiDAR-equipped Jaguar I-Paces. Tesla relies on its pure vision-only approach using cameras, which is more economical but technically more complex.

The theoretical advantages of the Cybercab? A much lower production and operating cost, a design optimized for robotaxi use, and the integrated end-to-end Tesla ecosystem. But the challenges are immense:

• US regulations: each state imposes its own rules, and authorizations take time
• European market: currently, vehicles without steering wheels are simply prohibited
• Public acceptance: convincing passengers to get into a fully autonomous vehicle
• Absolute reliability: zero tolerance for accidents involving AI

For us, French and European drivers, the question remains: when and how will this type of vehicle be able to legally circulate on our roads? Musk’s statements will have to contend with a regulatory reality that is much more restrictive than in some US states.

This first Cybercab rolling off the factory floor undeniably represents a concrete step forward. From prototype to mass production, the road is still long, but Tesla has crossed an important symbolic threshold. The announced price of $30,000 would be revolutionary if met, completely repositioning the robotaxi market.

For us, Tesla owners, the evolution of FSD in the coming months will be the best indicator of the project’s real feasibility. Will MKBHD really have to shave his head in a few months? If so, it will be proof that Elon Musk has, for once, kept his promises on schedule. To be followed very closely…