Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. The Next Phase Is Underway Tesla has officially begun production of the Cybercab at Giga Texas, marking a significant shift in its positioning as more than just an electric vehicle maker. However, there’s a major catch, as unsupervised driving without traditional controls has yet to be approved. The Cybercab units rolling off the production line appear to lack a steering wheel and side mirrors, and likely pedals as well. Without approval for unsupervised autonomous driving, the two-seater robotaxi cannot enter service, though Tesla previously said its Plan B would be to install steering wheels and pedals. If anything, the start of production suggests the company is confident the Cybercab’s original purpose can be delivered. Purpose-built for autonomy Cybercab in production now at Giga Texas pic.twitter.com/Y9qG3KyWBa— Tesla (@Tesla) April 23, 2026 Meeting the Requirements Interestingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposes an annual 2,500-unit production limit on vehicles that do not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), some of which concern equipment the Cybercab appears to lack. However, Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy replied “No” to a question on X about whether the production cap applies to the Cybercab, a claim seemingly backed by drone footage showing a production unit with an FMVSS sticker. While awaiting further developments, Tesla has expanded its unsupervised Model Y robotaxi operations to geofenced areas in Dallas and Houston. The company has also outlined plans to expand into more cities this year, including Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas. The Cost-Cutting Play The recent report that Tesla is building private Supercharger sites – likely intended exclusively for its robotaxi fleet – also suggests the company is moving forward with its plans. The decision to remove the steering wheel