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Tesla Robotaxi Timeline 2016–2026: From Musk's 1 Million Promise to Model Y Rides and Cyb…

Tesla Robotaxi is live in six U.S. metros as of August 2026, but the vehicle riders actually get is a Model Y, not the purpose-built Cybercab. Cybercab is in p…

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MASTER PLAN, PART DEUX

Tesla outlines a shared autonomous fleet vision

On July 20, 2016, Elon Musk publishes Master Plan, Part Deux, describing owners adding their autonomous Tesla to a shared fleet to earn money — explicitly conditioned on…

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THE MILLION-ROBOTAXI FORECA…

Musk predicts 1 million robotaxis by 2020

At Tesla's April 2019 Autonomy Investor Day, Musk predicts Tesla will have more than one million robotaxis on the road by 2020, built on new Hardware 3 computers. The fo…

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WE, ROBOT

Cybercab and Robovan revealed

On October 10, 2024, Tesla unveils Cybercab — a two-seat autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals — alongside Robovan, a larger concept for groups or cargo. M…

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FIRST PAID RIDES

Robotaxi launches in Austin — in a Model Y

On June 22, 2025, Tesla launches paid Robotaxi rides in Austin: ~10-20 Model Y vehicles, a $4.20 flat fare, a safety monitor in the front seat. Early videos show driving…

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SAFETY MONITOR REMOVED

Austin begins limited driver-free rides

Tesla starts offering some Austin Robotaxi rides on a limited basis with no human safety monitor in the front seat — a meaningful step toward unsupervised operation.

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PRODUCTION BEGINS

Cybercab production starts at Giga Texas

The first production Cybercab rolls off the line on February 17, 2026. Tesla has listed a production-capacity target above 125,000 units annually at full ramp — a target…

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DALLAS & HOUSTON

Unsupervised Robotaxi launches in two new cities

On April 18, 2026, Tesla launches its first fully unsupervised Robotaxi service outside Austin, in Dallas and Houston — Model Y, no in-car safety monitor.

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FLORIDA + EMPLOYEE RIDES

Miami, Orlando, Tampa launch; Cybercab carries its first riders

Unsupervised Robotaxi reaches Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Separately, Cybercab begins driverless employee rides on the Gigafactory Texas campus — private roads, no paying…

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THE NEXT MILESTONE

Cybercab prepares to join the public Austin fleet

Tesla sends invitations for a Cybercab event reported for September 3, 2026. The plan: employee rides on public roads first, then Cybercab integration into the Robotaxi…

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