Cars And Track Staff
Yes, the gold-finished doorstop with the butterfly doors Tesla Cybercab, or “Robotaxi,” is officially on display at the 2026 Chicago Auto Show.
Our friends on the floor tell us this isn’t just a static sculpture of Elon’s dreams. According to a company rep, this is one of two units currently haunting the streets of Chicago for “urban durability testing.” A colleague even managed to snag a grainy, Bigfoot-style photo of the other one navigating the Loop—likely trying to figure out how to handle a pothole the size of a kiddy pool without a human to swear at it.
What We Know (Or What We’re Being Told)
- The Look: It’s a two-seater with no pedals, no mirrors, and a screen that looks like it was ripped off a high-end gaming rig.
- The Timeline: Production is still “planned” to start in April 2026. If you’ve followed Tesla timelines before, feel free to set your watches to Optimism Standard Time.
- The Launch: Expect the service to roll out in Austin, Texas later this year. Because if you’re going to launch a driverless fleet, you might as well do it in the backyard of the factory where they’re being born.
Look, whether you think this is the future of transit or just a very expensive way to get stuck in a McDonald’s drive-thru without a way to get out, the Cybercab is all but inevitably going to arrive in the not too distant future. It’s polarizing, it’s weird, and it’s currently the only car at the Chicago Auto Show that doesn’t have a place for you to rest your hands.
