The story so far: On September 3, 2026, Tesla announced the rollout of its new electric robotaxis, offering services in designated parts of Austin, Texas. According to news reports, the self-driving cars are almost impossible to ignore as their gold exterior and ‘Cybercab’ branding catch the eye. But the near-empty interior has sparked questions about the safety of passengers and their ability to intervene in case of emergencies. What are the features of Tesla’s Cybercab? The Cybercab is a self-driving car that has seating for two people. The ‘butterfly’ doors open upwards and the body boasts a sleek, cyberpunk-inspired design that contrasts sharply with the chunkier camera-mounted cars from rival Waymo. The golden exterior is meant to represent a “literal” golden age of transportation, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. There are no steering controls or pedals inside the Cybercabs. Mr. Musk has declared that the cars were built for “maximally efficient autonomous operation.” On the absence of brake pedals, he said this would help in reducing the complexity of a hydraulic system, and that “plumbing” would not have to be routed all around the car. Regulators will need to confirm if Mr. Musk’s design choices comply with their safety requirements. Mr. Musk described the Cybercab as “basically a super comfortable lounge on wheels with a great TV and epic sound”. With upcoming Starlink integration, users would be able to watch 4k live video while riding in the Cybercab, he said. Switches under the touchscreen allow users to lower the windows. A cabin camera monitors the vehicle’s interior. A Tesla Cybercab promotional video showed passengers sleeping, watching movies, playing games, teaching children, holdings dogs, and handling conference calls while they were taking a ride. A major perk for loyal passengers is that their climate and media settings are saved in