Tesla Plans April Production Ramp for $30,000 Cybercab After 14 Robotaxi Crashes
Tesla plans ramped-up production of its $30,000 Cybercab in April, as the Austin robotaxi service recorded five crashes in January, raising total incidents to 14 since mid-2025. Rival Waymo now operates in 10 cities, has driven 200 million autonomous miles and faces an NHTSA investigation after multiple collisions.
1. Cybercab Production Plans
Tesla has set its Cybercab price at $30,000 or less and will begin ramped-up production in April, following a series of highway tests in Chicago. The low-cost electric robotaxi is intended to expand Tesla’s autonomous fleet and compete directly with established ride-hailing services.
2. Robotaxi Safety Record
The Austin pilot of Tesla’s robotaxi service logged five crashes in January, bringing the total to 14 incidents since mid-2025. These safety challenges have drawn criticism from investors and raised questions about the readiness of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology.
3. Competitive Landscape
Waymo now operates in 10 U.S. cities, has logged 200 million autonomous miles and is under NHTSA investigation after multiple collisions, while Baidu’s Apollo Go has reached 300,000 rides per week. These rival milestones increase pressure on Tesla to demonstrate both growth and safety in its robotaxi rollout.