Tesla Confirms Cybercab Has No Production Cap as Ramp Begins – Not a Tesla App

Tesla is officially taking the training wheels off its autonomous future. After months of building modified test mules, the company has confirmed that the true, control-free Cybercab is now in mass production at Gigafactory Texas. In a promotional video shared on X, Tesla showcased a fleet of steering wheel-less vehicles rolling off the assembly line and autonomously navigating their way out of the factory and onto public streets.

“Cybercab has started production,” Elon Musk added, marking a major milestone for the program. This news comes just days after footage from Giga Texas revealed over a dozen newly manufactured units sitting in the factory’s outbound lot. Notably, these vehicles feature the minimalist interior Tesla promised: no driver controls, no pedals, and no side mirrors.

The 2,500-Vehicle Question

While seeing the hardware is exciting, a massive question has been looming over the program: How will Tesla bypass federal red tape? The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently maintains a 2,500-vehicle-per-year, per-manufacturer limit on the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) that lack traditional controls.

However, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, has finally put those fears to rest. When asked on X if the 2,500-vehicle cap applies to the Cybercab, Moravy simply responded: “No.”

No

— Lars (@larsmoravy) April 22, 2026

This exemption is a game-changer. It appears that instead of asking for a special permission slip, Tesla is self-certifying the Cybercab under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). An FMVSS sticker was previously spotted on a production unit, suggesting Tesla has found a way to meet safety standards without needing a traditional steering wheel, effectively allowing it to produce as many units as the factory can pump out.

Ramping Up the Robotaxi Network

This production surge arrives at the perfect time. Tesla recently expanded its Robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, offering fully unsupervised rides in both new markets. Currently, that fleet is made up of modified Model Ys, but with the Cybercab now in volume production, it won’t be long before these purpose-built vehicles join the network.

Tesla has already shown it is willing to pivot if needed — previously stating they would add pedals and wheels if regulations demanded it — but the “No” from Moravy suggests Plan A is full steam ahead. Recent footage of the car’s frunk even revealed specialized hardware like a massive fluid reservoir to supply the washers for each of its exterior cameras, showing just how much engineering has gone into this dedicated autonomous platform.

The Road Ahead

Tesla is clearly done with the “testing” phase. By mass-producing a vehicle that physically cannot be driven by a human, the company is doubling down on its Unsupervised Full Self-Driving software.

With production ramping up and the regulatory path seemingly cleared, the Cybercab is no longer a “someday” project. It is the backbone of Tesla’s future business model, and if the current pace at Giga Texas is any indication, you might be hailing a wheel-less ride sooner than you think.

Tesla is back with another collection of themed lifestyle items, and this time, the company is clearly targeting the coffee addict in your life (or at least those who want to look high-tech while they caffeinate). Tesla has officially released three new products on its online shop: a futuristic espresso set, a technically crafted thermal mug, and a new t-shirt featuring the company’s famous humanoid robot taking a break.

While these are simple accessories, lifestyle items like these help establish Tesla’s foothold as a household name. This branding is essential as the company pivots from being just an automaker to a robotics and AI powerhouse. With massive ambitions for what CEO Elon Musk has called “the best product ever” of any kind in the Optimus humanoid robot and a global autonomous ride-hailing service powered by the newly production-ready Cybercab, Tesla is ensuring its “T” logo is everywhere, from the garage to the kitchen counter.

Tesla’s themed lifestyle products often sell out in record time, so you’ll want to act quickly if any of these catch your fancy. Here is a breakdown of the new arrivals:

CyberDemitasse Espresso Set ($125)

Made from high-fired white porcelain, the limited-edition CyberDemitasse Espresso Set is inspired by the angular, “origami” design language of the Cybertruck. The set includes two 2oz (60mL) cups and two plates, featuring a unique floating handle design. To give it that signature Tesla touch, there is a red Tesla “T” logo printed on the top of the plate and the underside of the cup. For those worried about the practicality of $125 drinkware, they are officially microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

Tesla Thermal Mug ($35)

If you prefer a full cup of coffee over a quick espresso shot, the Tesla Thermal Mug is designed with “heatsink principles” in mind. According to the Tesla Shop description, the mug draws inspiration from the cooling technology used on the power inverters and battery packs in Tesla vehicles to manage temperatures. The ridged exterior design creates air pockets between the mug’s surface and your hands to help with heat distribution. It’s made of 100% glazed ceramic with a matte black finish and a stealthy “T” logo on the bottom.

Tesla Optimus Coffee Break Tee ($40)

Rounding out the coffee theme is a new piece of apparel. The Tesla Optimus Coffee Break Tee features a graphic of the Optimus robot drinking espresso at a Tesla Diner on the front, with the Tesla wordmark on the back. This is a fun nod to the future, especially since Musk confirmed during the Q1 2026 Earnings Call this week that the mass production-ready Gen 3 Optimus is still on track for a public unveiling later this year.

The Future of the Tesla Brand

As Tesla ramps up Cybercab production at Gigafactory Texas and prepares to bring autonomous ride-hailing to the masses, these lifestyle drops serve as a reminder of the company’s cultural reach. Whether it’s a $125 porcelain cup or a $30,000 autonomous taxi, the goal remains the same: making Tesla’s futuristic aesthetic an everyday reality.

During the Q1 2026 earnings call, Tesla provided another rare, granular look at the adoption rates for its Full Self-Driving software. The newly released slide deck reveals that Tesla has officially transformed its driver-assistance suite into a massive software business, exceeding half a billion dollars in annual recurring revenue.

Subscription Boom

According to the official figures released in the deck, Tesla currently boasts 476,100 active FSD subscribers. Based on this adoption rate, the company is generating an impressive $546 million in recurring subscription revenue per year.

This milestone proves that Tesla’s recent shift toward prioritizing a subscription model is paying off.

Outright Purchases and Total Reach

While subscriptions are driving the bulk of recent growth, the legacy purchasing model still accounts for the lion’s share of active users. The Q1 slide deck confirmed that 823,900 owners have purchased the FSD suite outright.

By combining those outright purchases with its active subscription base, Tesla has amassed 1.3 million paid FSD customers globally. This represents a massive fleet of vehicles actively gathering localized driving data, validating edge cases, and continually training the neural networks that will power future unsupervised robotaxis.

One item of note is that the purchases include vehicles in regions where FSD is not currently available, such as China, the UK, and most European countries.

Funding the Future

Software revenue is incredibly important for Tesla’s long-term bottom line. Unlike physical vehicle sales, which are subject to supply chain constraints, raw material costs, and manufacturing bottlenecks, software subscriptions carry incredibly high profit margins.

This $546 million recurring revenue stream will be vital for funding the company’s ambitious goals, and it’s only going to grow, as Musk announced earlier this year that FSD subscription prices will rise as capabilities increase. As outlined during the earnings call, Tesla is expecting a staggering $25 billion in capital expenditures for 2026 to fund its Cortex 2 supercomputer, new manufacturing facilities, and the expansion of its uncrewed commercial fleets. 

The continued growth of the FSD subscription base ensures that the company has the organic software cash flow required to safely finance this massive technological leap.