Tesla Cybercab service unlikely in California until 2027, potentially saving MKBHD's hair

Key facts

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated the Cybercab robotaxi service will launch commercially in California by mid-2025.
• YouTuber Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, bet he would shave his head if Tesla failed to sell its Cybercab for $30,000 before the end of 2026.
• Musk's new timeline suggests California will not see a commercial robotaxi release until next year.
• Tesla must resolve an NHTSA audit query into its self-certification of the vehicle's safety standards.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has offered a revised timeline for the company's Cybercab robotaxi service, suggesting that commercial operations in California are now expected by mid-2025. This updated projection potentially spares tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, widely known as MKBHD, from fulfilling a public bet to shave his head. In 2024, MKBHD vowed to shave his head on camera if Tesla did not meet its promise of selling the steering-wheel-free vehicle for $30,000 before the end of 2026. The bet has garnered significant attention online, with Musk himself acknowledging MKBHD's wager. The new timeline, particularly the delay for California, adds a new dimension to the bet. Furthermore, Tesla faces an ongoing audit query from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding the vehicle's self-certification for federal safety standards. MKBHD himself has expressed confidence that his hair is safe, citing the remaining steps Tesla needs to take to bring the vehicle to market at its aggressive price point.