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Tesla is asking people if they want to buy and run Cybercab fleets
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Tesla has made a significant move toward expanding its autonomous vehicle ambitions by releasing a new interest form for businesses looking to purchase and operate fleets of its upcoming Cybercab. This development, announced on Thursday ahead of a dedicated event in Austin, signals that Tesla's long-term plans for its purpose-built robotaxi extend beyond operating its own fleet.
The robotaxi interest form marks a notable shift from Tesla's historical approach. For years, CEO Elon Musk championed a vision where personally owned Tesla vehicles would be utilized by their owners in a ride-sharing network. As early as 2016 and as recently as 2020, Musk publicly predicted the arrival of autonomous robotaxis, often centered on this peer-to-peer model.
That original vision has not materialized. Tesla has instead focused on testing and operating its own internal robotaxi fleet, initially using Model Y vehicles and now transitioning to the new Cybercab. This latest form, which explicitly states it aims to "help us build our robotaxi network," suggests the company is now exploring a more open ecosystem.
The form asks interested parties to select from several potential collaboration options. These include purchasing fleets of Cybercabs, developing mobility hubs and infrastructure, event-specific collaborations, and other unspecified partnerships. The precise structure of any future program remains undefined.
Tesla's initiative arrives amid a growing trend of dedicated autonomous fleet management companies entering the market. For example, the African fintech startup Moove recently raised $250 million and is already operating Waymo's robotaxi fleets in several U.S. cities, with plans for expansion.
Traditional rental car giants like Avis and Hertz, along with other firms like Avomo and New Horizon, are also partnering with companies like Uber to capture a share of the robotaxi market. This shows a clear and expanding business model for third-party fleet management.
By inviting external operators, Tesla could accelerate market saturation for its new vehicle. This strategy might enable the company to scale its robotaxi network more rapidly than by operating fleets alone, potentially leapfrogging competitors in the race to deploy autonomous ride-hailing services at a global scale.
