Tesla Cybercab Hits Buffalo, New York for Winter Testing [VIDEO]

The Cybercab had previously been sighted only within the low-speed grid of downtown Austin and on closed tracks at Giga Texas. Recent sightings indicate Tesla is expanding its testing program: the vehicle has been observed on the MoPac expressway in Austin and, notably, near Buffalo, New York — roughly 1,500 miles from Austin.

The footage from Austin, captured in slow motion on the highway, represents the first time the Cybercab has been seen traveling at higher speeds.

The Cybercab was filmed near Buffalo, New York, where Tesla is likely conducting cold-weather testing.

Cybercab on the highway pic.twitter.com/97XD4jVc9a

— Adan Guajardo (@AdanGuajardo) January 7, 2026

Highway Testing

Urban testing exposes the vehicle to complex decision-making scenarios involving pedestrians, unprotected left turns, and unpredictable human traffic, but it generally occurs at lower speeds. In those conditions the cabin is relatively quiet and is less affected by vibration or wind.

At highway velocities, wind noise and road vibration become significant factors. Engineers need to confirm the Cybercab's cabin remains quiet and verify there are no unexpected resonances or aerodynamic instabilities at higher speeds.

Winter Testing

The Buffalo sighting (video by Ty Thomson) likely indicates testing in cold conditions, possibly assessing components, charging behavior, and efficiency at lower temperatures. While regional temperatures have warmed recently, they were still around the mid-30s, allowing evaluation in less-than-ideal conditions. Buffalo could see snow in the coming days, and it will be informative to see whether Tesla remains to test the vehicle in snowy conditions.

Steering Wheel & Charging

These sightings provide the clearest view yet of the Cybercab’s steering wheel, though the method Tesla uses to charge these vehicles remains unclear.

The steering wheel appears to be taken from the Cybertruck, and the Cybercab likely uses the same steer-by-wire functionality.

Although the Cybercab is expected to use wireless charging, Tesla may be equipping these test vehicles with a temporary charging port for long-distance travel where wireless charging infrastructure is unavailable.

The Cybercab also includes side mirrors, as required by current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which mandate human controls for test vehicles unless a specific exemption is granted.

Until that legislation changes — possibly around the upcoming hearing next week — Tesla must operate validation and testing fleets with human controls and safety drivers to remain street-legal.

Ramping Up for 2026

These highway and winter sightings align with Tesla's aggressive timeline: production later this year and Cybercabs on the road by the end of 2026.

Sightings in Austin have become more frequent, progressing from rare appearances near Giga Texas to tandem drives downtown and now high-speed highway test runs at night. This pattern suggests Tesla is moving from early alpha testing toward broader validation. Tesla says production of the Cybercab will start in April.

It is likely only a matter of time before Cybercab testing appears in more regions.