The Verge Spends an Hour in Cybercab — Comfortable, But Not Fully Reassuring
The Verge published a firsthand account of an hour-long Cybercab ride in Austin — praising the 22-inch display, more legroom than a Model Y, and a soft suspension tune, while flagging long wait times, buggy butterfly doors, drop-off spots that snarled traffic, and self-driving software that didn't always feel fully confident.
Boarding is simple: the butterfly doors close automatically, then you tap 'Start Ride' on the central screen. With no steering wheel, pedals, or side mirrors, The Verge's reporter spent nearly an hour riding around Austin's roughly 288-square-mile geofenced service area.
The interior exceeded expectations. A massive 22-inch center display handles entertainment and navigation, legroom is more generous than in a Model Y, and a soft suspension tune smoothed out Austin's rougher pavement.
But there were real gripes: long wait times, reported issues with the butterfly doors, and drop-off locations that caused traffic jams. Nothing went seriously wrong on the rides, but the self-driving software also didn't feel as confident as you'd want in a car with no manual controls.
The reporter's takeaway: an experience that felt 'nerve-wracking and reassuringly boring at the same time' — a reminder that fully driverless robotaxis still have as much trust to build as comfort to offer before going fully mainstream.
Summaries are prepared by the Tesla Briefing editorial team and may not capture every nuance of the original reporting. You are solely responsible for your own investment decisions.