8 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Andrew J. Hawkins

Andrew J. Hawkins

Transportation editor

Transportation editor

    More From Andrew J. Hawkins

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Here’s what it’s like to ride in a Tesla Cybercab.

    Some of the pro-Tesla content creators that the company invited to its closed-door Cybercab event are starting to post their first rides.

    • Tesla and SpaceX investor Sawyer Merritt posted his first ride on X.
    • Herbert Ong said the weirdest part is “how normal it feels.”
    • Chuck Cook describes it like “getting into a first class seat on an airplane.”
    • And YouTuber David Moss took his blind father for his first ride, specifically to highlight what driverless cars could mean for people with visual impairments.
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Tesla isn’t livestreaming its Cybercab event.

    Right now, Tesla is holding a private event with a bunch of pro-Tesla influencers to celebrate the “launch” of its autonomous Cybercab vehicle. But in a break from the past, the company is not livestreaming the event. Several influencers posted on X that the company made them sign NDAs and barred them from posting any content until the event is over. Not really the sign of confidence a lot of investors were looking for!

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Pro-natalist Elon Musk bans kids from riding in the Tesla Cybercab.

    According to the company’s newly launched Robotaxi website, children under the age of 13 are not permitted to ride in the Cybercab — even if they’re riding with an adult. Kids between the ages of 8-13 are allowed in Tesla’s Model Y robotaxis, but only when riding with an adult. And those under 8 are not allowed at all. Even stranger, the Cybercab’s compliance documents (PDF) include detailed instructions for installing child seats. Which is it, Elon?

    Image: Tesla
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Happy Tesla Cybercab day — right?

    We still have no word on when this supposed event is taking place. All we know is that it’s in Austin, which predictably has seen a surge of gilded Cybercabs hit the streets. Reuters says it’s supposed to start at 5:45PM ET, citing a Cybercab engineer’s tweet that I can’t seem to verify. Either way, we’ll be monitoring the event and will hopefully have more updates to share later today.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Waymo is a magnet for parking tickets.

    The robotaxi company has accrued more than 8,300 violations in San Francisco since January 2025, according to records obtained by Gazetteer. On average, that’s about 103 tickets a week. Most of the violations appear to be for parking in locations reserved for tour buses, obstructing traffic, or blocking bike lanes.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Who leaves a pig head in the back of a Waymo?

    Scratch that: who leaves two pig heads in the back of a Waymo? Throw-up, leftover joints, even the occasional doo-doo — I can understand how some of these things can be left behind for the robotaxi cleaner. But pig heads?