Tesla to begin Cybercab production in April, Musk claims

Core Insights - Tesla will start production of the Cybercab, an autonomous electric vehicle designed without pedals or a steering wheel, in April at its Austin factory [1][2] - The Cybercab aims to optimize the cost-per-mile in autonomous mode, with a manufacturing cycle time of 10 seconds, potentially allowing for the production of 2 to 3 million units annually [4] - There are conflicting statements regarding the Cybercab's design, with Tesla's chairwoman suggesting it would include a steering wheel and pedals as a backup, while Musk has decided against this [3] Production and Design - The Cybercab is specifically built for unsupervised, full self-driving capabilities, lacking traditional controls like pedals and side mirrors [2] - The manufacturing process is expected to be significantly faster than that of the Model Y, which has a one-minute cycle time [4] Regulatory Considerations - Approval from federal regulators is necessary for deploying vehicles without standard equipment like a steering wheel [8] - The regulatory process for exemptions can be lengthy, as seen with General Motors and Waymo, which still use vehicles with traditional controls [9] - Musk expressed confidence in the ability to deploy Cybercabs, suggesting that as they become more common, regulatory resistance will diminish [9]