Tesla Cybercab spotted on New Zealand public road for first time

Tesla’s Cybercab has been photographed driving on a New Zealand public road for the first time, with images posted online showing the autonomous two-seater near Cardrona Valley Road.

The images, shared on the Rare and Unique Car Spotting New Zealand Facebook page, show a Cybercab travelling under its own power just minutes from the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds. A second image posted to the group shows the vehicle parked on snow at the proving grounds, confirming it is undergoing cold-weather testing there.

The Cybercabs first appeared in New Zealand in June when they were photographed strapped to a transporter heading south through the North Island.

It is unclear whether the vehicle was operating autonomously when the latest images were taken, and the photos do not reveal whether anyone was inside.

The Cybercab wears the same gold finish as production vehicles being built at Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, along with flush aerodynamic wheel covers and a full-width rear light bar.

Tesla has confirmed it owns the two Cybercabs that arrived in New Zealand last month and that they are based at Cardrona for cold-weather testing.

The Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds operates during June, July and August, allowing northern hemisphere manufacturers to conduct snow and ice testing during their summer. Toyota and Sumitomo were among the first companies to use the facility in the early 1990s.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency filing released earlier this year, the Cybercab is powered by a 48kWh battery and a single 163kW front-mounted electric motor. Tesla claims a range of up to 672km and a kerb weight of 1.4 tonnes, making it lighter than a Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive.

Production versions of the Cybercab are designed without a steering wheel or pedals. However, the left-hand-drive vehicles spotted in New Zealand are fitted with a steering wheel, suggesting they are engineering prototypes rather than finished robotaxis.