Tesla published the operating agreement for the two-seater "Cybercab", which starts at $29,990, revealing strict restrictions requiring a mandatory monthly self-driving subscription of $299. In the event of non-payment, the car stops working completely due to the absence of a traditional steering wheel and pedals.
Strict terms and restrictions on personal use
The "Cybercab Autonomy Subscription Agreement" imposes harsh conditions including Tesla's right to modify the subscription price based on just one month's notice, and restricting the vehicle's movement within a specific geographic range (Geofences) which the company has the right to reduce or modify at any time. The terms also include suspending the service for a week if the user receives three warnings due to unsafe use without proportional financial compensation.
In addition, the agreement prohibits using the car for personal commercial purposes such as adding it to a robotaxi network or delivery applications without written permission from Tesla, and obligates owners not to make any external modifications such as painting or window tinting except through an approved provider, while collecting data including interior camera images saved by default for 30 liters.
Impact on Model Y owners
This launch raises widespread questions and criticisms among "Model Y" car owners who purchased the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package years ago and have not yet received unmonitored self-driving features, despite the similarity of systems and software between the two models and the Cybercab's reliance on the same computer hardware found in current Model Y cars.
What changes practically for users?
Vehicle ownership effectively transforms into a variable-cost lease-like format, where the buyer is committed to paying a large upfront amount followed by a continuous monthly subscription to maintain the vehicle's operability. With the company's ability to remotely control the car, reduce the geographical operating range, and control prices, the Cybercab model reshapes the traditional concept of ownership for autonomous electric vehicles.