Tesla has big plans for the Cybercab, its all-electric, fully autonomous robotaxi that it plans to start building before 2027. Not only does it expect them to be ferrying around passengers across the United States before the end of the decade, but Elon Musk foresees a world where people could own multiple Cybercabs and manage a fleet of them.

At the car’s unveiled two months ago, one element that really captured the world’s attention was its bold design. Not only is it unlike any other Tesla to come before it, but it’s different from most other four-wheeled vehicles. Of course, that’s if you disregard the VW XL1 from 2013, but that’s another story. To provide us with a glimpse into the design of the Cybercab, Tesla design boss Franz von Holzhausen recently spoke with the Petersen Automotive Museum, where one of the EVs is on display.

Read: Tesla Cybercab Is A $30,000 Robotaxi Without A Steering Wheel Or Pedals

The discussions start at the rear of the car. Just like the Polestar 4, the Cybercab lacks a rear window. Von Holzhausen says that in a self-driving vehicle designed to ferry passengers from A to B, there’s really no need for occupants to see what’s going on behind them. By ditching a rear window, Tesla has also been able to make the storage compartment as large as possible.

For the first time in a Tesla, the Cybercab uses dihedral doors which are usually reserved for high-priced supercars. These doors make it feel like “you’re stepping into the future,” according to Von Holzhausen. The wheels feature solid aero discs aimed to maximizing efficiency. Tesla has also painted strips around the tires in the same shade as discs, making it seem like the wheels are bigger than they really are.

The EV’s interior is even more minimalist than other Tesla models. Dominating the cabin is a large central screen that’ll keep passengers entertained, and there are a pair of seats that look more reminiscent of lounge chairs than traditional car seats.

Whether or not the Cybercab will be a success remains to be seen. It’ll have to sell well, and for regulations concerning self-driving vehicles with no conventional controls like a steering wheel and pedals, which currently limit their permits to 2,500 per year, to change radically. If reports about incoming President Donald Trump’s intentions turn out to be accurate, this may actually happen sooner rather than later, as his transition team has allegedly said that crafting a federal framework for self-driving cars (and likely removing existing restrictions) is a “top priority”.

There were plenty of talking points after the Tesla Cybercab’s glitzy unveiling a couple of weeks ago and one of the more interesting topics relates to how the carmaker plans to charge the all-electric robotaxi.

Take a look at the photos published by Tesla of the self-driving two-seater and you’ll notice it does not have a charge port. That’s not an accident. The Cybercab will be produced at scale without a charging port, meaning it cannot use the carmaker’s expansive network of Superchargers. Instead, the Cybercab can only be charged wirelessly.

Read: Musk’s Cybercab Dreams Could Hit 2,500-Unit Limit Under US Rules

During the car’s presentation, Tesla teased it using inductive charging and recently shared a clip on X that shows it charging at 25 kW. That’s impressive for inductive charging and is much quicker than the standard 11.5 kWh provided by Tesla’s Wall Connector. Of course, it is much slower than most public chargers, including Tesla’s V4 Superchargers, which can charge at up to 350 kW.

Responding to this clip, technology reviewer Marques Brownlee indicated there’s no way Tesla can make an inductive charging system that isn’t inefficient, noting that “wireless charging has a massive heat waste,” and suggesting that a “really noble goal for something like this would be maybe 75% efficiency.” Tesla responded to this claim, stating it’s achieved efficiency that “is well above 90%”, while Elon Musk claimed that “there is no meaningful efficiency difference between inductive and conductive charging if the system is designed right.”

Hold up, it doesn't even touch the car? Genuinely asking, is there a way this *couldn't* be inefficient? https://t.co/PrfDNZDg0v

— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) October 18, 2024

Efficiency is well above 90%

— Tesla (@Tesla) October 19, 2024

If true, that would be quite an impressive feat. Last year, Tesla quietly purchased a German company specializing in wireless charging technologies for a reported $76 million. That company, Wiferion, had claimed to have developed a wireless charging solution that achieves 93% efficiency.

Although the Cybercab may achieve a breakthrough in wireless charging, not adding a plug seems shortsighted. Tesla wants to establish a huge fleet of robotaxis but none of them can use existing Superchargers, nor any other public charging network. This means Tesla will need to either update its Superchargers to include wireless charging pads specifically for the Cybercab, or the onus will be placed on owners to charge their robotaxis at home with a charging pad.

There is no meaningful efficiency difference between inductive and conductive charging if the system is designed right.

There is always an inductor somewhere in the charge circuit!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2024

When unveiling the Tesla Cybercab late last week, Elon Musk promised that it would be produced in “very high” numbers. Bold words, but there are still plenty of pesky regulatory hurdles for Tesla to clear before this fully autonomous vehicle even sniffs a production line—let alone starts rolling out in serious volume.

Like Tesla’s other models, the Cybercab relies on the company’s vision-only autonomous driving tech, but with a twist: no steering wheel, no pedals, no controls whatsoever. While this makes sense for a vehicle that can drive itself 100% of the time without any human intervention, actually getting approval to roll out such a vehicle onto public roads isn’t easy.

Read: Tesla Cybercab Is A $30,000 Robotaxi Without A Steering Wheel Or Pedals

For any automaker looking to launch a vehicle without standard driving controls must be granted permission from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to do so. GM attempted to get an exemption to roll out a robotaxi without normal controls back in 2022 but, after two years, abandoned the request after it went unanswered.

If Tesla does manage to get the NHTSA’s approval to introduce the Cybercab, current regulations would only permit it to deploy 2,500 vehicles per year without a steering wheel and pedals, Bloomberg reports. That would not be enough to achieve Musk’s aim of operating a huge fleet of robotaxis across the United States. According to University of South Carolina law professor and autonomous vehicle expert, Bryant Walker, “exemptions aren’t a viable route for a mass manufacturer,” unless “Congress increases this limit.”

Musk insists Tesla will start building the Cybercab before 2027, though they haven’t even filed for the necessary NHTSA exemption yet. Maybe they’re holding off for dramatic effect, or maybe it’s just business as usual at Tesla, where deadlines seem more like suggestions.

On top of all this, Tesla has state-level regulations to contend with. Tesla doesn’t have a driverless testing or deployment permit in California and is likely years away from obtaining one. It will also need to provide the state with comprehensive testing data. It might be a bit easier to get the Cybercab on the road in states like Texas, but even there, Tesla faces the uphill battle of proving that this tech is ready for prime time.

When Tesla unveiled its futuristic Cybercab, many sharp-eyed observers were quick to spot an unexpected resemblance to an obscure eco-marvel from the past—the VW XL1. While Tesla’s latest creation wants to revolutionize urban mobility with full autonomy and mass-market ambitions, the XL1 was a hyper-efficient, ultra-limited experiment in fuel-saving technology. Despite their vastly different missions, the visual similarities between the two are hard to overlook.

Tesla’s Cybercab—or robotaxi, as it’s often called—is a fully electric, fully self-driving vehicle. Elon Musk has set his sights on starting production by 2027, with a projected price tag of $30,000. What sets the Cybercab apart is that it completely eliminates the steering wheel and pedals altogether, depending entirely on AI and a web of sensors to shuttle passengers to their destinations without human intervention.

More: VW’s 262-MPG XL1 Was The Perfect Skinflint’s Supercar, Here’s One For Sale And What It’s Like To Drive

Meanwhile, the VW XL1, a true unicorn in the automotive world, had a production run of just 250 units, all reserved for European buyers, with an eye-watering price tag of €111,000 (around $121,500 today). First introduced as a concept in 2002 that was refined in 2009 and 2011, the XL1 finally hit the market in 2013. Its headline feature? A mind-bending fuel consumption of just 0.9 liters per 100 km, or about 260 mpg. VW achieved this through a 0.8-liter, two-cylinder, plug-in diesel hybrid powertrain producing 68 hp, combined with cutting-edge lightweight materials and wind-cheating aerodynamics.

So, how did two seemingly unrelated vehicles—one an affordable robotaxi, the other an ultra-expensive eco-cruiser—end up looking like long-lost cousins? The most obvious explanation is their shared goal of aerodynamic efficiency, along with a desire to create something futuristic and desirable. Let’s break down the five key similarities that tie the Tesla Cybercab and VW XL1 together.

Silhouette

We start with the most obvious similarity, which is the overall shape. This is largely dictated by aerodynamics, as the droplet is the natural form with the least drag. The short nose and sloping roofline are common features among several concepts and production vehicles, but the effect is accentuated by the similar greenhouse design.

However, the XL1 pushes aerodynamics even further with its extended tail and rear wheel covers, designed to slice through the air with minimal resistance. In contrast, the Cybercab opts for larger disc wheels and a rising beltline that gives it a more approachable, less aggressive look.

Butterfly Doors

Another key feature of the Tesla Cybercab and the VW XL1 is their butterfly doors, contributing to their futuristic stance. Besides the cool factor, the design makes it easier for occupants to enter and exit the cabin, especially in low-slung vehicles. This is why you usually come across unconventional door mechanisms on supercars and hypercars rather than SUVs, with the notable exception of the Tesla Model X.

The XL1 takes this one step further by incorporating portions of the roof into the door design, necessary given the car’s ultra-low height of just 1,153 mm (45.4 inches). While Tesla hasn’t released detailed specs on the Cybercab’s height, prototypes appear significantly taller than the XL1, making this door style more about form than function.

No Rear Windscreen

Lighting Units

The omission of a rear windscreen is not as uncommon in 2024 as it was in 2013, but it’s another shared trait between the Tesla and the VW, contributing to the monolithic appearance of the rear deck. In the XL1, the lack of rear glass likely served weight and aerodynamic goals. For the Cybercab, fully autonomous driving eliminates the need for rear visibility altogether.

Interestingly, other new models, like the Avatr 12 and the Polestar 4, have also ditched the rear windscreen, marking a trend in modern automotive design that favors tech-driven solutions over traditional visibility.

This one might be a bit of a stretch, but both the Cybercab and XL1 boast full-width light bars on both ends that give them an undeniably sci-fi aesthetic, especially at night. While each model has its own distinct lighting signature, the Cybercab seems to take inspiration from Tesla’s notorious Cybertruck, blending angular, futuristic elements with clean, continuous light strips at both the front and rear.

Two-Seater Cabin

Finally, both models have a two-seater interior layout, despite not being geared towards high-performance driving. The Tesla Cybercab has the unique trait of omitting the driving controls (no steering wheel or pedals), while the VW XL1 features a notable offset between the seats, making the maximum use of its narrow cabin.

A clear advantage the Cybercab has over the tiny XL1 is cargo space. Thanks to its fully electric powertrain, Tesla had more room to play with packaging, giving the Cybercab a larger trunk. The XL1, on the other hand, had to make do with a rear-mounted 0.8-liter turbodiesel engine as part of its hybrid setup, limiting practicality.

And that concludes our list with the similarities between the fully electric robotaxi (Tesla Cybercab) and the highly efficient automotive oddity (VW XL1). Do you think that Tesla designers intentionally copied (or at least were influenced by) the Volkswagen, or are these features simply the byproduct of engineering for maximum efficiency and usability?

So, Tesla finally did it. After years of wild speculation, Twitter teasers, and a few timeline “adjustments” from Elon, the company has officially pulled the covers off its long-rumored robotaxi. The vehicle, officially named the Cybercab, draws design inspiration from the Cybertruck, and unlike many other robotaxi prototypes unveiled over the past few years, this Tesla will actually be available for private consumers to buy.

Read: Rimac’s Verne Robotaxi Is A Sporty 2-Seat Coupe With Sliding Doors And No Steering Wheel Or Wipers

The Cybercab is packed with Tesla’s latest autonomous driving tech, and about 20 units were on display at the event, giving attendees a chance to experience test rides. Tesla’s eccentric billionaire boss, Elon Musk, claimed production will kick off in 2026, though during the live unveiling, he was quick to admit he tends to be “optimistic” with timelines. To cover his bases, Musk clarified that production will begin before 2027, and it should be available to purchase for less than $30,000.

Steering-Wheel-Free Future?

Since the Cybercab has been conceived without a steering wheel or pedals, Tesla won’t be able to start manufacturing or selling it to customers without securing regulatory approval first. As expected of any new Tesla model, the interior is extremely minimalist, offering seating for two and featuring a large central infotainment screen, seemingly lifted straight out of a Model 3 or Model Y.

Butterfly Doors

Like the electric Cybertruck, the Cybercab’s exterior is dominated by a single full-width LED light bar across the front end that gives it a futuristic look. You’ll also spot some familiar Tesla shapes and lines on the outside, including sharp creases running over the hood and the pronounced rear shoulders that echo the Model Y. However, there’s one standout feature not seen in any other Tesla model: the supercar-inspired butterfly doors. In theory, they should help with ingress and egress, but we’ll see how practical that turns out in a Whole Foods parking lot.

Tesla’s obsession with aerodynamics is alive and well, with solid aero covers on the wheels to help squeeze out a few more miles of range. At the rear, you’ll find a super-thin light bar that, unsurprisingly, takes design cues straight from the Cybertruck playbook. And since this car is built for full autonomy, there’s no need for outdated relics like wing mirrors or even a rear window—who needs to look back when your car drives itself?

The company is still playing coy when it comes to the Cybercab’s powertrain. No specific details have been revealed about how far it can go on a single charge, which seems like a pretty critical piece of info for a robotaxi designed to be in constant, all-day use.

Bonus Round: Tesla Robovan

Just when everyone thought it was over, Musk hit us with a curveball—a surprise second reveal called the Robovan. It’s Tesla’s vision of an all-electric, fully autonomous bus that can hold up to 20 passengers in comfort or serve as a van to transport goods. Like the Cybercab, few technical details were provided about the vehicle, but Musk did confirm that it would use the firm’s most advanced self-driving tech, relying on a vision-only system. There’s no steering wheel or pedals here either, just a wide-open, spacious cabin with plenty of seating.

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Clearly, the most radical aspect of the Robovan is the exterior design. Looking like a futuristic pod out of a science fiction film, it has large glass side panels and LED lighting both front and rear. Musk said it’ll be part of the upcoming ‘Tesla Network,’ an autonomous ride-hailing service, but as with all things Tesla, production timelines and pricing remain mysterious.

And there you have it: Tesla’s latest attempt to take over your driveway—and the future—one autonomous pod at a time. Now it’s your turn—drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you stand on this fleet.