Tesla’s AI Chief Ashok Elluswamy recently reiterated Tesla’s commitment to autonomous transportation at the 2026 ScaledML Conference. In his presentation, Elluswamy emphasized that Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab is specifically designed for autonomy, with no steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal. This focus on full self-driving capabilities is aimed at reducing the cost of transportation, potentially even surpassing public transport options in terms of affordability.
The Cybercab is a two-seat, all-electric vehicle that is purpose-built for Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing network. It is intended to be a key component of Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions, where vehicles can operate continuously without the need for a human driver. While Tesla owners will eventually be able to add their own vehicles to the autonomous fleet, the Cybercab is designed to be the primary vehicle due to its optimization for cost, efficiency, and scalability.
Although early test vehicles of the Cybercab still feature traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, Tesla plans to remove these components once volume production begins around April. This will leave the vehicle entirely reliant on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system for navigation and operation.
Elluswamy also reiterated Tesla’s belief in vision-only autonomy, arguing that cameras are sufficient for solving the self-driving problem. He emphasized that the challenge lies in extracting information from the camera feed, which is an AI problem rather than a sensor problem. This philosophy drives Tesla’s end-to-end neural network approach to autonomy, which the company believes will enable faster and more efficient scaling compared to sensor-heavy alternatives.
With Cybercab production trials already underway and real-world testing expanding across multiple U.S. states, Tesla is making significant progress in bringing its autonomous vehicle vision to reality. For those interested in a more in-depth technical exploration of Tesla’s self-driving technology, Elluswamy’s full presentation at the ScaledML Conference is recommended viewing.
Overall, Tesla’s focus on autonomy and its innovative approach to self-driving technology are positioning the company as a leader in the autonomous transportation industry. As the development of the Cybercab continues, Tesla is on track to revolutionize the way we think about transportation and mobility in the near future.