Tesla Unveils Robotaxi 'Cybercab' in Japan for the First Time; Domestic Rollout Undecided

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U.S. electric vehicle giant Tesla on the 11th unveiled its dedicated autonomous robotaxi vehicle, the "Cybercab," in Japan for the first time. The vehicle has no driver's seat, steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, and a ride-hailing service using the vehicle began in some areas of Texas in September. A rollout in Japan is undecided at this point, but Tesla Japan President Rishi Hashimoto said, "If there's a chance, we'd like to do it," adding, "We want to launch when Japan's legal framework and our safety can be achieved together." To drive it in Japan, the company must obtain safety standard relaxation certification and type designation as a Level 4 autonomous vehicle from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as specific autonomous operation permits from the prefectural public safety commissions with jurisdiction over the approved operating areas, meaning it must clear two major regulatory hurdles. The company began mass production of the Cybercab in the United States in April this year; instead of a driver, eight cameras and AI handle everything from perceiving the surroundings to driving maneuvers, and the vehicle is equipped with its proprietary advanced driver assistance system, Full Self-Driving. Regarding the aim of the display in Japan, President Hashimoto explained, "We want people to feel Tesla's cutting-edge technology up close. We want them to actually understand that this is being implemented, not just a pie in the sky," and indicated the company will prioritize bringing FSD to Japan, aiming for sometime in 2026.

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A Japan rollout remains undecided and requires clearing Level 4 safety certification and prefectural autonomous operation permits.

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