Who is the Cybercab for? Not you
28 Days to Go!
CoMotion LA ‘26 kicks off next month, November 18-19: Cities on the Move: Mega-events, AI & Shaping What’s Next — featuring the OMF Summit Track.
Tesla says it will begin selling Cybercabs by the end of the year. But only to fleet managers, not individuals. Elon Musk nevertheless insists that the dream of letting your own Tesla work as a robotaxi when you’re not using it is only a few months away. Hmm.
It was only going to be so long before state governments came after “e-bikes” that are basically motorcycles, but let’s hope they don’t hurt real e-bikes in the process. And how much does this mayoral election in Los Angeles affect the 2028 Olympics? And can you guess what state boasts America’s three most walkable cities?
Finally, if you’re a startup in the mobility space, apply for the LA New Mobility Challenge for a chance to present your company or product to a panel of industry-leading experts at CoMotion LA ‘26 next month! Applications close on October 23rd.
What you need to know
Tesla says it will begin selling Cybercabs, but not to you: The automaker says it will begin selling the custom-built robotaxis by the end of the year. The details remain vague, but on a Wednesday earnings call Elon Musk said the Cybercabs would not be destined for individual buyers but ride-hail services. On the other hand, he also said that by Q2 of next year existing Tesla owners will be able to opt their own vehicles into a national Tesla robotaxi network, allowing their cars to make money for them while they’re at home or work. As was everything that comes from Tesla, you should take these promises with a grain of salt.
E-bike regs ramp up: State legislatures across the U.S. are passing a variety of laws targeting electric scooters and mopeds, especially their use by kids. The question is whether state and municipal governments are going to pass sensible regulations that recognize the difference between quasi-motorcycles and pedal-assisted e-bikes.There is a real risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. New Jersey’s extremely restrictive law requires registration and insurance for all e-bikes; a bicycle industry group blames the law for prompting the closure of dozens of bike shops.
Join the Leading Voices in Mobility 🤩🌴
The special 10th edition, CoMotion LA ‘26, takes place on November 18-19 in Downtown Los Angeles featuring the OMF Summit Track.
Network with transit agency representatives, city leaders, CEOs, investors, VC’s, and startups from California and accross the United States, Canada, Colombia, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and more.
Grab a pass today and participate in energizing panels, keynotes, private evening receptions, workshops, demos, exhibitions, and much more!
Madrid moves towards autonomy: Waymo is the latest autonomous ride-hailing company to begin testing autonomous vehicles in the Spanish capital with plans to begin offering rides next year. The Alphabet subsidiary is positioning itself to compete with an alliance of three companies: Chinese AV startup WeRide, Spanish fleet operator Avomo and Uber, which will begin deploying a small fleet of driverless vehicles by the end of this year.
New Jersey sweeps on walkability: The most walkable city in the U.S. is Hoboken, N.J., according to Walk Score, the walkability rating system developed by Redfin, the real estate listing site. Hoboken, a dense city of 60,000 right across the Hudson River from Manhattan, boasts a Walk Score of 97. In second place is Union City, N.J. and third place belongs to West New York, N.J. The Big Apple itself comes in 8th place, with a score of 88, right behind San Francisco and Somerville, Mass.
Boston takes a look at congestion pricing: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says she has been in touch with New York officials about congestion pricing. She hasn’t formally proposed anything yet, but described it as one possible way to fund transportation.
Skyfly’s twist on eVTOL: British startup Skyfly raises $10 million to bring its two-seat Axe electric aircraft into production, with first customer deliveries targeted for 2027. Whereas most other eVTOL aircraft rely primarily on rotors for lift, Skyfly is designed more like a conventional airplane and makes more use of its wings. This could potentially make flight more efficient and provide longer range.
What we’re reading
What would a new LA mayor mean for the Olympics? Alissa Walker, who has been tracking Los Angeles’ preparation for the 2028 Olympics, addresses concerns promoted by Mayor Karen Bass that her defeat by challenger Nithya Raman would destabilize plans for the event. Walker’s view is that Raman has in fact been asking important questions intended to keep the event fiscally sustainable.
