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Tesla is asking people if they want to buy and run Cybercab fleets

21 h ago

Tesla published a form for businesses to purchase Cybercab fleets or provide infrastructure, signaling its autonomous vehicle ambitions extend beyond operating its own robotaxi network. The robotaxi interest form, released ahead of Tesla’s Cybercab event in Austin, asks interested parties to select options including Cybercab fleet purchasing, mobility hubs, event collaboration, or “other.” While not definitive proof Tesla will sell its autonomous vehicles to third-party operators, the move indicates the company wants to scale its robotaxi network without going it alone. CEO Elon Musk has long envisioned a massive robotaxi fleet, initially centered on personally owned Tesla vehicles equipped with self-driving software. That vision never materialized; instead, Tesla focused on testing and operating its own fleet, first with Model Y vehicles and now the purpose-built Cybercab. Until now, Tesla seemed committed to keeping its robotaxi business in-house. The new form suggests the company sees promise in widening the circle to include third-party companies. A growing number of firms are entering the robotaxi fleet management space. Moove, an African fintech startup that raised $250 million at a $2.1 billion valuation, operates fleets for Waymo in Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas. Uber has partnered with fleet managers like Avomo and New Horizon, as well as rental giants Avis and Hertz. Tesla’s welcome mat to fleet operators could encourage more small players to open shop, helping the company saturate markets faster.