Tesla’s driverless Cybercab faces an awkward problem: getting riders where they want to goCult of MacAnkita SharmaThu, September 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleTesla Cybercab in the Mall of Berlin 2024 | Image Credit: Avda, Wikimedia CommonsTesla's Cybercab is now carrying passengers in cars without a steering wheel or pedals in parts of Austin, Texas. But one recent ride shows that making a car drive itself is only part of the challenge. The vehicle also needs to be able to find a practical route that ensures its passengers get to their destination in a reasonable amount of time.But one Austin rider recently took to social media to talk about their Cybercab trip from 99 Ranch Market to The Domain. This trip, which normally takes about 10 minutes, lasted roughly 70 minutes as the Cybercab reportedly traveled south through the city before turning back north.Tesla has not independently confirmed the individual trip, although other firsthand reports have identified navigation issues with the service.A regular Austin trip becomes a mini city sightseeing tourThe reported Cybercab detour appears to be linked to restrictions on the roads Tesla's robotaxis can currently use. Previous reporting from Austin indicates the Cybercab service is avoiding highways, which can force its vehicles onto slower surface streets for trips that would normally make use of freeways.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis limitation becomes particularly noticeable when the Cybercab takes detours in a city such as Austin, where major roads connect areas that are relatively close to each other geographically. This can lead to the final route looking like a sightseeing tour as the robotaxi avoids most of the direct roads.Shortly after, another incident emerged where an Axios reporter booked a Cybercab for a roughly 4-mile trip. However, the Cybercab dropped the individual off in the parking lot of a Whataburger adjacent to the original drop-off location. The reporter reached out to Tesla customer support and was told that the area was blocked off.The reporter then booked Tesla's self-driving Model Y for the return trip, only to find the driverless car parked in the parking lot of the adjacent Whataburger, approximately 100 feet away from the pick-up location.Currently, autonomous driving cars from the rival company Waymo also operate in Austin, Texas.Cybercab is still in a tightly limited rolloutTesla says Cybercab is designed for full autonomy, but rides are currently available only in limited areas of Austin. Tesla's broader Robotaxi operates in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, with the Model Y vehicle modified for use in areas with limited Cybercab deployment.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis makes Austin a key real-world test for Tesla's robotaxis. The company has also shown Cybercab outside the US, including a limited exhibition in Hong Kong. However, these are only appearances and not commercial deployment.Tesla's Cybercab rollout is also facing regulatory scrutiny. On September 4, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Tesla's self-certification of the Cybercab. The agency is examining whether Tesla properly demonstrated compliance with federal vehicle safety standards.NHTSA has since asked Tesla whether temporarily installed human driving controls or other equipment played a role in its certification. The deadline for Tesla's response is September 30. These questions are part of the investigation and do not establish that Tesla has violated any federal safety requirement.For Tesla, the early Cybercab rollout is therefore testing more than whether the car can drive without a human. It also has to prove that a ride in a driverless car can be practical, predictable, and able to get passengers where they want to go, especially when compared to normal cab rides.AdvertisementAdvertisementTesla's Austin rollout shows that autonomous driving alone is not enough. A useful robotaxi also needs to provide a practical route and reliably reach its destination, even when a driver is not at the helm.Affiliate links on Cult of Mac may earn us and our partners a commission.