Tesla’s Cybercab took two major steps forward in its development this week, with prototypes spotted testing at the company’s Fremont factory in California at the same time the vehicle was seen at Giga Texas’ crash testing facility. The simultaneous activity signals that Tesla’s first dedicated robotaxi is rapidly advancing through its final validation stages, possibly nearing production readiness.
A Key Milestone Before Production
Crash testing typically marks one of the last steps before Tesla begins pilot production of a new vehicle. The fact that the Cybercab is now at the Giga Texas crash test facility mirrors the late-stage timeline of the Cybertruck, which entered similar tests roughly one to two 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,” noted drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer, who if you are unfamiliar, has been tracking Tesla’s Giga Texas facility since it was merely a dirt patch.
Signs of Ramp-Up Inside Giga Texas
Over recent months, Tegtmeyer has documented new equipment deliveries and installations at Tesla’s Austin-based factory—developments that now appear directly linked to Cybercab preparations. With both the crash test lab and assembly tooling coming online, Tesla seems poised to transition from development to manufacturing validation, a critical step toward commercial deployment.
The Cybercab, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk has teased as the company’s first purpose-built robotaxi, is expected to operate without a steering wheel or pedals, although some prototypes have been spotted with a steering wheel.
Spotted at Fremont For First Time
On the same day the Cybercab was seen at the Giga Texas crash testing facility, a test vehicle was also spotted for the first time testing at Tesla’s Fremont factory in California. The sighting, captured on video during a drone flyover, showed the prototype moving through Fremont’s test track area, suggesting Tesla has entered the active validation phase for both hardware and software systems.
Tesla spotted for the first time testing the Cybercab at their Fremont factory in California.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) October 9, 2025
Full video: https://t.co/mXGIJXYCqY pic.twitter.com/oveOsXqiyg
What’s Next
If Tesla maintains its current pace, the company could begin pre-production or release candidate builds of the Cybercab before the end of the year. That would align with previous comments from Musk saying the Cybercab could enter production in 2026.
