DID-YOU-KNOW · Did you know
Party of Two: Your Group Size Helps Decide Whether Tesla Sends a Cybercab
Tesla's Cybercab FAQ says the car takes up to two riders and that the vehicle assigned to a ride depends on what is available and how many people are in the group. The rules also cover teens, pets and who can book.
Riley Cho, Features writer, Live desk
Published · 2 min read
AUSTIN, Texas - Open the Robotaxi app in Austin and you cannot simply pick the gold car. Tesla picks for you, and one of the things it weighs is how many friends you brought.
Tesla's official Cybercab FAQ answers the question directly. Asked whether riders can choose between a Cybercab and a Model Y Robotaxi, Tesla says: "Initially, the vehicle assigned for your Robotaxi ride will be based on what is available and the number of riders in your group."
The number that matters most is two. "Up to two people can ride in the Cybercab vehicle," the FAQ says. Those two get room to stretch out, with 43.4 inches of leg room, according to Tesla's published dimensions. A group of three needs one of the Model Y robotaxis that the same app dispatches in Austin.
Age counts too. Riders aged 13 to 17 may take a Cybercab only with an adult, and guests under 13 are not permitted to ride in one, according to the FAQ, which points riders to Tesla's Robotaxi Terms of Service and Rider Rules for more detail.
Nor can you send a Cybercab for someone else. "You can only book rides for yourself," Tesla says. Disabled riders may bring service animals, but non-service animals may not ride in the Cybercab.
Once a Cybercab is assigned, the routine is simple: check that the license plate matches the one in the app, wait for the door to open or open it from the app, fasten the seatbelt and tap Start Ride. Do not dawdle. The car waits at the pickup point for seven minutes, after which fees may apply or the ride may be canceled.
One perk follows riders from trip to trip. Tesla says climate and media settings are saved in each passenger profile and automatically carry over between rides.
So the next time a Model Y pulls up instead of a Cybercab, check the headcount. With more than 300 Cybercabs in Austin and rides now running until midnight, a party of two has plenty of gold cabs to draw from.
