In brief

• Tesla lets selected US customers pre-order its Cybercab robotaxi.
• The estimated price is $29,990, plus a $299 monthly fee for the autonomous service.
• Autonomous driving will initially be available only in a few US cities, and the business model remains unclear.

Pre-orders for a vehicle without controls

Tesla has said that selected customers in the United States can now pre-order the Cybercab, a two-seat vehicle built without a steering wheel or pedals. The company has estimated the price at about $29,990, roughly 27,000 euros at current exchange rates (Business-Ticker: Tesla lässt ausgewählte Käufer Robotaxis vorbestellen – FAZ.NET) (Tesla verkauft Robotaxis für 29.990 Dollar, plus 299 Dollar Gebühr pro Monat. Doch nicht an alle Kunden. Aber es fährt (nur nicht überall) – DER SPIEGEL). Buyers would also pay a monthly fee of $299 for the autonomous service.

Unclear business model

The plan leaves open how the vehicles will be used. Elon Musk had earlier said most Cybercabs would run in a Tesla-owned fleet rather than in private hands. It has not been clear how many cars the company intends to sell to private owners, and buyers would need the monthly subscription to use the self-driving function.

Limited rollout

Autonomous operation will only be offered in a few US cities at first, according to reports (Tesla Robotaxi: Tesla lässt ausgewählte Käufer in den USA Cybercab vorbestellen – ZEIT ONLINE). Pictures from New York show a Cybercab with a human tester on board, and local traffic authorities there have reportedly asked for a brake pedal to be fitted.

What comes next

Tesla has not said when deliveries to private customers will begin or which cities will be served first. The pre-order list is restricted to chosen buyers, so most of the public cannot yet reserve a car.