Tesla invites personal Cybercab orders at $29,990 with a $299 monthly subscription

Tesla said on Nov. 13 that it had begun inviting select customers to buy its two-seat Cybercab for personal use. The order screen published by Tesla’s Robotaxi account shows a vehicle price of $29,990 before tax, plus a $299 monthly autonomy subscription required to operate it. The screen estimates delivery in December 2026 in Austin, Texas.

The invitation gives selected customers the option to own a Cybercab. Tesla says in its third-quarter update that it has used the vehicle for paid Robotaxi rides in Austin since Sept. 3. Passengers currently book individual rides through that service. Tesla’s announcement did not specify whom it was inviting or how many invitations it had sent. December is the estimate shown at ordering, and Tesla has yet to announce a delivery to a private customer under this offer.

A $1,000 deposit and a separate monthly charge

Tesla’s screenshot shows $1,000 due at ordering as a nonrefundable deposit. The first month of the autonomy subscription is included with the purchase. After that, the company lists a separate $299 monthly charge before tax. The sticker price and 11 paid months add up to $33,279 before tax for the first year if the rate stays the same. Insurance and charging are separate.

Tesla’s subscription agreement requires an active subscription to operate the car. It renews monthly until canceled. Owners can cancel through their Tesla account. Tesla does not refund the unused portion of a paid month. The agreement gives Tesla the option to change the price with one month’s notice. It includes connectivity, remote assistance, roadside support and some maintenance, including listed tire services. Owners pay for registration, insurance, parking and charging.

Elon Musk said in a public reply on Nov. 14 that $299 was too high and that the fee should be closer to the roughly $115 charged for driver assistance and connectivity on other Tesla cars. That was his proposed level. Tesla’s order screenshot lists $299 a month, and Musk gave no date for a change.

Tesla defines where the car can operate

Owners need a Tesla account and app to manage trips. The subscription agreement limits operation to areas Tesla enables and other conditions it sets. The dashboard or app displays the operating area and limits. The area generally follows Tesla’s Robotaxi service, and Tesla can redraw it through software or map updates. The agreement allows the two service areas to differ. Operation also requires connectivity and current software. A gap in coverage can limit service.

Tesla describes the Cybercab as a two-seater with camera vision and sensors and without a steering wheel. The agreement describes a touchscreen control for short movements at up to 2 mph, outside ordinary public-road use. The subscription is for personal, noncommercial use. Owners need Tesla’s authorization to use the car for ride-hailing, delivery or rentals.

Austin is the delivery location shown

Tesla’s rider help page lists Cybercab trips in limited parts of Austin and describes Model Y Robotaxi service in several other cities. On the rider page, Austin is a service area for hailing a Cybercab. On the order screen, Austin is where an owner would receive the car. The subscription agreement governs where owners can drive it.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an audit on Sept. 4 following the start of Cybercab rides in Austin. The agency said it would review the technical basis for Tesla’s certification that the vehicle complies with federal safety standards, including how it treated requirements related to traditional controls. That inquiry began before the invitation to private customers.

Musk said in his Nov. 14 reply that Tesla would expand sales across the United States as it received regulatory approvals. Tesla has given no date for nationwide ordering or for private deliveries in other markets.