No Children Allowed: Latest Updates on Tesla’s Cybercab

The private event held by Tesla to unveil the Cybercab has concluded, and it significantly diverged from the usual large, boisterous, livestreamed launches that the company typically conducts — a peculiar choice for introducing a product that CEO Elon Musk has invested years in developing.

Interestingly, it seems Musk did not speak at the event, which lasted approximately 15 minutes according to various reports.

The potential of the Cybercab is significant: a fully autonomous vehicle that relies solely on cameras and AI for driving, with a price point much lower than a Waymo. However, Tesla has been less forthcoming with details. Some information was included in PDFs released on Thursday and in updated terms of service within its “Robotaxi” app, while the remainder was shared by a select group of dedicated fans online.

The company now faces the challenge of validating the safety of these vehicles — to the public, local governments, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has already initiated an investigation into Tesla’s Cybercab deployment.

In the meantime, here are some intriguing new details that stood out:

No Cybercab for kiddos

One noteworthy point in the Cybercab’s fine print is that Tesla currently prohibits minors under 13 years old from riding in the vehicle.

However, minors aged 8 to 17 are allowed to travel in Tesla’s “Robotaxi” Model Y SUVs, and the company has established guidelines for child seat usage in both vehicles.

Interestingly, the Cybercab lacks the standard LATCH anchors for child seats. Instead, these must be secured with the seat belt. Tesla’s executives, including Musk, have frequently discussed their strategy of removing unnecessary parts to reduce costs, but it was unexpected for the company to eliminate child seat anchors — especially given Musk’s noted enthusiasm for encouraging larger families.

Tesla mandates that all passengers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in both vehicles, but there seems to be some uncertainty preventing the inclusion of young children in the Cybercab at this time.

What happens in a crash?

Although the intention behind an autonomous vehicle is to avert crashes, some of the most advanced models on the market still occasionally experience collisions.

In the event of a crash, here’s what occurs with the Cybercab: airbags will deploy, doors will unlock, hazard lights and interior lights will activate, the high voltage battery will be shut down, the windows will adjust to the “vent” position, the Cybercab will apply the brakes to halt and park, and the infotainment system will establish a two-way connection with Tesla’s rider support team.

The unlocking of doors is particularly significant as Tesla has faced criticism over its dependence on electronic door latches, both within the U.S. and in its largest market, China. Recently, Tesla agreed to recall 3 million vehicles in China along with several other manufacturers due to an investigation into electronic door latches that could pose a risk to occupant safety after a crash.

Manual door releases

Regarding doors, another recent criticism directed at Tesla is that its manual interior door releases are not easily identifiable in an emergency. These manual releases are essential because the electronic door latches primarily facilitate entry and exit from the vehicles, operated via a button or a smartphone.

The Cybercab employs electronic door latches, permitting automatic opening of the doors at the start or conclusion of a ride. Additionally, there is a small button outside the vehicle for riders to use to open the doors. Fortunately, the manual release is prominently located on the armrest of each door for easy access inside.

Brake-by-wire

In the Cybercab, Tesla has implemented a brake-by-wire system, largely, it seems, for cost-cutting purposes. Instead of a hydraulic system that uses fluid to manage brake pressure, Tesla utilizes electronic actuators to control the brake calipers.

“Using electric brakes simplifies the complexity of having a hydraulic system: there’s no need to run plumbing throughout the vehicle,” Musk noted in a post.

The company was already the first major automaker to adopt steer-by-wire in its Cybertruck, eliminating the physical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels.

A little fresh air

For reasons not elaborated on in the recent documentation, the windows of the Cybercab “cannot be fully opened at this time.”

USB-C power

Influencer Jeremy Judkins reports that the USB-C outlets in the Cybercab provide 90W of power — approximately four times the typical output found in standard vehicles.