Tesla, breaking news! Musk makes a statement

Tesla Cybercab Autonomous Electric Vehicle Begins Production Earlier Than Planned!

On February 18, the Securities Times reporter learned from Tesla China that the first mass-produced Tesla Cybercab autonomous electric vehicle has rolled off the line at the Texas Gigafactory in the United States. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced, “Congratulations to the Tesla team for successfully manufacturing the first mass-produced Cybercab.”

The Cybercab is a vehicle designed specifically for autonomous driving by Tesla, featuring no steering wheel or pedals. Previously, Musk had repeatedly indicated that the Cybercab would enter production in April 2026. Currently, it appears that the production start has been moved up ahead of the original schedule.

The Cybercab aims to optimize the cost per mile over its entire lifecycle and strives to achieve utilization rates five times higher than passenger cars (about 50–60 hours of use per week). At the 8th China International Import Expo held last November, Tesla’s autonomous vehicle Cybercab made its Asia-Pacific debut. Tesla staff at the time revealed that the Cybercab is equipped with wireless charging technology and robotic arm automatic cleaning functions, fully prepared for large-scale deployment.

Tesla previously disclosed that the production growth of the Cybercab model will follow an S-curve, with long-term production targets far exceeding the total of all other Tesla models combined.

On February 18, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) also announced that, following Tesla’s rectification of marketing claims regarding autonomous driving features, the 30-day sales ban on the brand has been officially lifted. This means Tesla has achieved compliance by adjusting user notifications without changing the technical terminology.

This controversy originated from the DMV’s questioning of Tesla’s naming of the “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” features. The agency believed that such terms could mislead consumers into thinking the vehicles are fully autonomous, when in fact they still require human supervision. In December of last year, the agency ruled that Tesla engaged in misleading advertising and recommended a sales ban, giving a 90-day rectification period.

Recent regulatory documents show that Tesla has clarified the driver’s responsibility to stay fully attentive by updating vehicle manuals, increasing system prompt frequency, and optimizing disclaimers during sales processes.

With the ban lifted, Tesla’s sales network in California will return to normal operations. The DMV also stated it will continue to monitor marketing practices and require companies to submit regular compliance reports. This outcome may serve as a reference for regulatory practices in other regions.