Tesla's Cybercab has reached Michigan. About two dozen of the gold two-seaters are operating out of Tesla's collision repair facility on 12 Mile in Southfield, The Detroit News reports. They have been seen on I-696, M-10, Telegraph Road and Eight Mile Road.
What is running
- Test drivers aboard: the Detroit cars have human test drivers and temporary steering wheels. The production Cybercab is designed without a steering wheel.
- No public rides yet: Tesla has not given a timeline for public Cybercab service in Detroit, Drive Tesla Canada notes. The Detroit News says Tesla could not be reached for comment, and that its test drivers are under a non-disclosure agreement.
- Winter testing: Drive Tesla Canada points out that Michigan's snow and changing weather are a different challenge from Texas.
Waymo is already there
Waymo began testing in the Detroit area about a year ago, and this October it started fully autonomous testing of its Zeekr-built vehicles without specialists behind the wheel, according to both reports. Waymo told The Detroit News there is still no timeline for public service in Detroit.
«Tesla has not officially said that they're testing here, so hard to say what they're specifically doing,» Stephanie Brinley, associate director for automotive intelligence at Mobility Global, told The Detroit News. She added that testing in different weather and cities is important for developing the technology.
For now, Cybercab is open to the public only in Austin, The Detroit News says. Tesla's Model Y Robotaxi service also runs in Dallas, Houston, Tampa and Miami, and Drive Tesla Canada notes it added Fort Worth on Monday.
