Tesla Launches $30K Cybertruck Cab with $299 Monthly Fee; Musk Hints at Price Cut

Tesla has opened orders for its Cybercab to invited customers for personal use, with a base price of $29,990. However, the vehicle requires a $299 monthly subscription for autonomous driving to operate. The purchase agreement strictly prohibits commercial use and resale. Tesla CEO Elon Musk commented the following day that the monthly fee is too high, though no price adjustment has been announced.

Personal Orders Open for Tesla Cybercab

Tesla has begun selling its Cybercab to individual customers, fulfilling CEO Elon Musk’s promise of a price point under $30,000. The vehicle is priced at $29,990, but requires an additional $299 monthly subscription for its autonomous driving capabilities to function. Musk himself acknowledged on X the day after the announcement that the monthly fee “is too high.”

The Cybercab is a fully autonomous vehicle designed without a steering wheel or pedals. Tesla announced via its official X account, @robotaxi, on Friday, November 13th, that select invited customers can now order the Cybercab for personal use.

“It will be available nationwide, as we receive regulatory approval. But the monthly fee is too high. Should match the cost of Tesla FSD and connectivity for other models, which is more like ~$115/month,” Elon Musk posted on X.

Currently, the ordering process is by invitation only. Screenshots of the order page shared on X by tech YouTuber MKBHD indicate that buyers must accept delivery in one of five Texas cities (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or Fort Worth). The vehicle is restricted to operating within Tesla-defined service areas, and each customer is limited to one vehicle. The estimated delivery date listed on the order page is December 2026, with a non-refundable $1,000 deposit required upon ordering.

The vehicle’s price is $29,990 before taxes. The autonomous driving subscription costs $299 per month, with the first month included in the purchase. Subsequent monthly charges will continue until the subscription is canceled.

In comparison, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software for its other models is currently available via subscription for $99 per month, making the Cybercab’s monthly fee approximately three times higher. MKBHD had previously stated in 2024 that he would shave his head on camera if Tesla managed to sell the Cybercab to consumers for under $30,000 before 2027; the current price meets that threshold.

According to the purchase agreement details compiled by Drive Tesla and Tesla North, the Cybercab cannot be operated without an active autonomous driving subscription. While standard Tesla vehicles can still be driven manually without FSD, the Cybercab’s lack of a steering wheel and pedals means it is inoperable without the subscription. The order page also specifies that the vehicle requires a subscription and regular maintenance to function.

The monthly fee covers autonomous driving features, Premium Connectivity, roadside assistance, and certain maintenance consumables such as tires, windshield, wiper blades, and cabin air filters. Insurance, charging, and license registration are not included and are the owner’s responsibility.

The monthly fee also comes with conditions. The contract includes a “three-strikes” system for safety violations: accumulating three or more safety-related violations will result in a one-week suspension of autonomous driving capabilities, with no refund for the monthly fee during the suspension period. The subscription price can be adjusted by Tesla with one month’s advance notice.

This vehicle is intended for personal use, not as a revenue-generating tool. The contract stipulates that the Cybercab cannot be used for ride-hailing, rental, or any other commercial purposes without prior written approval from Tesla. The operational range is defined by Tesla and can be adjusted at any time. Modifications such as car wraps, window tinting, or wheel changes must also be performed by Tesla or an authorized vendor.

Ownership is not entirely transferred to the buyer. The vehicle cannot be resold or transferred without Tesla’s written consent, with violations incurring a penalty of at least $50,000 or the transaction value, whichever is higher. Tesla reserves the right to repurchase the vehicle at its determined fair market value at any time, with the owner responsible for return shipping costs. Tesla can also remotely restrict or disable the vehicle.

In his response to MKBHD, Musk stated that the Cybercab would be available nationwide as regulatory approvals are secured, but reiterated that the monthly fee is too high and should align with the cost of FSD and connectivity for other models, around $115 per month.

However, this remains Musk’s statement, and no price reduction has been announced. As of November 15th, Tesla has not published any adjustments to the monthly fee. If calculated at Musk’s proposed $115 per month, the total subscription cost over five years would be $6,785, bringing the five-year total to $36,775, a reduction of $10,856 from the current pricing.

Public reaction on social media is divided. In a Reddit thread on r/electricvehicles, some users expressed skepticism, likening the arrangement to “buying a car and renting it at the same time.” Others calculated that the $29,900 purchase price plus a $300 monthly payment equates to a monthly cost similar to a $50,000 vehicle.

Supporters, however, point to specific use cases. One ophthalmologist commented that they frequently advise patients with vision impairments that they can no longer drive, and many of these individuals run their own businesses and require mobility. For them, an autonomous vehicle would be genuinely useful.