The Tesla Cybercab — a fully autonomous vehicle with a futuristic appearance — has entered the Nashville market. But the reason for its presence seemingly has not been made public.
Upwards of 25 of the two-passenger battery-electric vehicles, designed to be self-driving and manufactured by Austin-based Tesla Inc., have been parked at the Dover Centre in Cool Springs for a few weeks now, according to multiple sources.
Eyed as a component of the Tesla Robotaxi service fleet and fully autonomous, the Tesla Cybercab offers no steering wheel or accelerator pedal. A concept version of the Cybercab was unveiled in October 2024, with Tesla having begun pilot production in February at the company’s Gigafactory Texas outside Austin.
Self-driving taxis are here, so what now? Our managing editor ordered a ride and pieced together this FAQ.
One source tells Scene sister publication the Nashville Post that interior panels have been removed and steering wheels added in a temporary fashion to allow drivers.
Tesla officials could not be reached for comment regarding the reason for the local presence and, specifically, if the vehicles could be tested in Nashville. A Tesla showroom is located in Franklin at 122 Market Exchange Court.
The Tesla Cybercab is a two-passenger vehicle with a gold exterior and a range of about 293 miles. The vehicle, which weighs about 3,100 pounds, has been tested on Austin roads. The Tesla Robotaxi Model Y service is being offered in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Austin, Dallas and Houston.
Tesla and The Boring Company were both founded by trillionaire Elon Musk. TBC remains under construction with its Music City Loop in Davidson County, a 19-mile tunnel to connect downtown Nashville and Nashville International Airport via Teslas with drivers.
To carry a cost between $240 million and $300 million (which TBC has said it will cover), Music City Loop is expected to open in 2027.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
