Image: @TailosiveEV
Tesla appears to be expanding the scope of its autonomous vehicle testing, with what looks to be the first Cybertruck outfitted as a Robotaxi validation vehicle spotted charging in California. The sighting was shared by @TailosiveEV on X, who posted close-up images of the modified Cybertruck plugged in at a charging station in Los Gatos.
The Cybertruck, bearing California plates, is clearly no ordinary production model. It features a roof-mounted LiDAR unit used for high-precision 3D mapping, along with additional cameras mounted to the front bumper — hardware well-suited for collecting extremely accurate data during complex maneuvers like parking and low-speed navigation. While Elon Musk has long dismissed LiDAR as unnecessary for Tesla’s consumer vehicles, the company has consistently used extra sensors on internal validation vehicles to establish “ground truth” data for training and verifying Full Self-Driving software.
What makes this sighting particularly notable is that Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet has so far consisted entirely of Model Y vehicles. Today, Robotaxis operate as a driverless pilot program with safety monitors in the passenger seat in Austin, while similar ride-hailing tests with safety drivers are underway in the Bay Area. In recent weeks, some vehicles have even been spotted testing “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving — without drivers or even safety monitors — in Austin. Until now, all known validation rigs tied to this effort have been Model Ys, making the appearance of a Cybertruck-based validation vehicle a first.
The timing is also significant. The Cybertruck only recently gained access to the full suite of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) features with the rollout of FSD 14, suggesting Tesla may now be confident enough in the platform to bring it into more advanced testing scenarios. Fans also noted that the placement of the cameras aligns with years of speculation about how Tesla might augment its sensor suite internally without changing its production philosophy.
All of this comes as Tesla prepares to scale its Robotaxi network dramatically. The company has been signaling major expansion plans ahead of the launch of Cybercab, a purpose-built autonomous ride-hailing vehicle slated to enter mass production in April. While Cybercab is expected to be the backbone of Tesla’s future Robotaxi fleet, the appearance of a Cybertruck validation vehicle suggests Tesla is continuing to test and refine autonomy across its broader lineup.
