Tesla says Cybercab rides are available in limited areas of Austin, Texas. A firsthand account published October 1 describes two rides taken there on September 10, including an abrupt stop and driving moments that ranged from assertive to hesitant.
Two Austin rides, one unfamiliar cabin
Tesla describes the Cybercab as a two-passenger vehicle with no steering wheel. In the vehicle she rode, the passenger also noticed no pedals. Before departure, the cab checked seat belts and required a tap on the touchscreen.
The large screen rendered nearby cars and pedestrians. The passenger said it was hard to tell the vehicle’s speed at first because they did not notice a speedometer or a head-up speed display.
An abrupt stop and mixed driving moments
On one ride in South Austin, the Cybercab stopped abruptly as it approached a green light. The passenger suspected phantom braking. The account also describes an assertive lane change, hesitation when a pedestrian waved the cab through, and a later move around slower cars.
Those moments came from two rides, not a broader measure of how the fleet drives. They give a picture of one passenger’s experience in different situations, rather than a single consistent driving style.
Pickup, comfort and passenger space
The first summoned cab took about 15 minutes to arrive. A different cab that was already in the area arrived quickly for the second ride. The first trip, to the University of Texas Co-op, cost about $20.
The passenger found the seats flat and uncomfortable after the second ride, despite ample legroom. Tesla lists 43.4 inches of legroom and a rear trunk volume of 20.2 cubic feet; the company says the trunk can hold two standard checked suitcases and two carry-ons.
Tesla also lists bench-style seating at wheelchair height, trunk space for wheelchairs and assistive devices, room for service animals, supplementary audio and visual features, and Braille on doors and overhead buttons.
