Elon Musk says the US$299 monthly fee that Tesla charges to run its new Cybercab is too high. He wrote it on X on 14 November, replying to tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, after Tesla’s own order page put that fee next to a US$29,990 price tag.
Tesla’s Robotaxi account announced on Friday 13 November US time (Saturday 14 November in New Zealand) that “select customers are now being invited to purchase Cybercab for personal use”. The order page in the post lists US$29,990 before tax, a US$1,000 non-refundable order deposit and an Autonomy Subscription of US$299 a month, with the first month included, Reuters and Teslarati report. Estimated delivery is December 2026, in Austin, Texas.
Select customers are now being invited to purchase Cybercab for personal use
Robotaxi (@robotaxi) November 13, 2026
What Brownlee and Musk said
Brownlee, who runs the MKBHD YouTube channel, opened his post with “Alright chat I’m in” and then listed the catches: “Invite only. Must accept delivery to one of these cities in Texas. Only operates in those existing geofenced areas. Requires a $300 monthly subscription to operate. One vehicle per customer.” His post doesn’t mention his bet, covered below.
Musk replied under it: “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.” Reuters reports the same figure. Tesla’s chief executive has now told a customer on X that Tesla’s price is too high. Musk hasn’t given a date for a lower fee.
@MKBHD 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 (@elonmusk) November 14, 2026
What the fee runs, per Tesla’s agreement
Tesla’s Cybercab Autonomy Subscription Agreement (version 20261112) says “Your Cybercab will not operate without an active Autonomy Subscription.” The Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, Teslarati reports. The agreement also says:
- Tesla can change the price with “one month’s notice”.
- Cancelling isn’t refunded in part: “your subscription payment won’t be prorated”.
- Three or more “strikeouts”, which are warnings Tesla issues when it detects improper or unsafe use, suspend the autonomous driving features for one week. That week isn’t prorated either.
- For servicing, the Cybercab “will travel autonomously, unoccupied to a Tesla service center” and returns to its owner when the work is done.
- The car is for “personal, non-commercial use only”. It can’t be listed on Tesla’s Robotaxi Network or on third-party ride-hailing platforms unless Tesla authorises it in writing.
- The owner pays for registration, insurance, parking, charging and general cleaning.
The sums
At US$299 a month, the 101st payment, about eight and a half years in, takes the fees past the US$29,990 price of the car. The table shows the totals along the way.
| Years owned | Fees at US$299 | Total with car | Total at Musk’s US$115 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$3,289 | US$33,279 | US$31,255 |
| 3 | US$10,465 | US$40,455 | US$34,015 |
| 5 | US$17,641 | US$47,631 | US$36,775 |
| 8 | US$28,405 | US$58,395 | US$40,915 |
The bet
Brownlee said in 2024 that he would shave his head on camera if Tesla sold the Cybercab to regular buyers for US$30,000 before the end of 2026, Business Insider reports. In an 11-minute YouTube video on 3 September, he said “My hair is safe, for now.” The order page lists US$29,990, which is US$10 under the line. The invitations go to select customers, one vehicle each.
Tesla hasn’t said how many customers it has invited or how it picked them. Its order page puts the first deliveries in December 2026, in Austin.
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