Tesla Cybercab Nears Reality as Giga Texas Kicks Off Crash Tests

Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab is starting to look less like a futuristic idea and more like a vehicle that’s nearly ready for production. This week, prototypes were spotted at both Giga Texas and Tesla’s Fremont factory, showing the company is now deep into real-world testing. The twin sightings, one at a crash test facility and the other on a California test track suggest Tesla’s first purpose-built robotaxi is in its final validation phase.

Crash testing usually marks one of the last steps before Tesla moves to pilot production. The Cybercab’s presence at the Giga Texas crash lab follows a familiar pattern; the Cybertruck went through similar trials just a couple of months before production units began rolling off the line.

“If this follows how the Cybertruck proceeded, we are likely a month or two before we will see initial test runs of what will be the production version,” said drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer, who has been documenting Tesla’s Austin facility since it was just a patch of dirt.

Tegtmeyer’s recent footage has shown new equipment arriving at the factory and major assembly tools being installed, all pointing to a shift from development to manufacturing validation. Inside Giga Texas, preparations appear to be in full swing as Tesla sets the stage for production testing.

On the same day as the Texas crash tests, a Cybercab prototype was also seen at Tesla’s Fremont facility for the first time. Drone footage showed the vehicle in motion on the test track, signaling that Tesla is now validating both the vehicle’s hardware and its advanced software systems in parallel. The coordinated activity between the two sites makes it clear the project is accelerating.

The Cybercab has been teased by Elon Musk as Tesla’s first dedicated robotaxi—one designed to operate autonomously, eventually without a steering wheel or pedals. Some prototypes still feature a wheel, likely for testing or transitional purposes. If development keeps up this pace, pre-production builds could begin before the end of 2025, aligning with Musk’s projection that the Cybercab will enter production in 2026.

Tesla’s latest moves suggest the company is closing in on one of its most ambitious projects yet. Whether the Cybercab becomes a turning point for autonomous vehicles or another lesson in the limits of overpromising, it’s clear Tesla is pushing forward faster than ever.

Source: DriveTesla