Musk says Cybercab won't run commercial rides in California until mid-2027
Musk himself pushed California operations to mid-2027, effectively conceding the 2026 mass rollout won't happen, with an NHTSA audit still pending.
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Elon Musk expects Tesla's Cybercab to start commercial operation in California only around mid-2027.
In an interview with China Global Television Network released on Saturday, September 26, Musk said the two-seat, steering-wheel-free vehicle "will soon be operating commercially in Florida, in Nevada, and a couple of other states," and that in California it will "probably" be running "by the middle of next year."
Tesla had earlier promised to sell the vehicle to regular buyers for $30,000 before the end of 2026 — the promise behind YouTuber MKBHD's head-shaving bet. The car still faces an NHTSA audit query into Tesla's self-certification that it meets federal safety standards, a hard gate before any wider rollout.