Tesla Drivers Left Alarmed After the Model Y AWD Is Canceled. But Don’t Worry, “Select Customers” Can Buy a Cybercab With Incredibly Expensive Monthly Subscription and Insurance Costs

Tesla has made it no secret that it plans to slowly leave production cars behind and focus on its Cybercab and Optimus robots.

First, Tesla removed the Model X and Model S from its fleet. That was followed by the Cybertruck, which was discontinued due to very (very) low sales and CEO Elon Musk needing the Gigafactory in Texas for the Cybercab instead.

The only vehicles left now? The Model 3 and Model Y. And Tesla fans grew alarmed on social media when it was announced that the cheaper $41,990 AWD version has been pulled from the website. The cheapest dual-motor model now is the Premium AWD, which is $49,990. This aligns with Tesla’s other choice to remove Basic Autopilot from vehicles earlier this year, forcing more people to pay for Full Self-Driving mode, which doesn’t even work as intended.

Tesla launched the cheaper Model Y trim in February, meaning it was available for only about nine months. This leaves would-be Tesla buyers with the following options:

• Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: $39,990 (348 miles EPA, 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds)
• Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive: $45,990 (355 miles, 5.4 seconds)
• Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive: $49,990 (327 miles, 4.3 seconds)
• Model Y Performance: $57,990
• Model Y L Premium (six seats): $61,990

However, Tesla is no longer untouchable. Other EV startups and automakers are catching up. Especially since Tesla has kept its vehicles practically the same year after year. It’s hard to justify a $50,000 Model Y when you can get a Chevrolet Equinox or Ford Mustang Mach-E with AWD for around $40,000. And Rivian has made it clear it has big driver-assistance plans to reveal in December. If Autonomy+ improves, a lot of drivers have already said they are prepared to switch from their Tesla Model Y to a Rivian R2.

Fans divided over Tesla’s future

Even the biggest Tesla fans, including well-known EV content creators, have sounded the alarm as Tesla continues to drop passenger vehicle models. Leaving Tesla fans without a personal vehicle and forcing them to ride Cybercabs instead has frustrated many.

“What’s the saying.. ‘You’ll own nothing and be happy’ or was it ‘Age or abundance’ where money doesn’t matter. But in the meantime, you’ll pay for your ride to work. WTF is going on… I choose freedom and poverty,” one Tesla driver said. 

Not to mention the Cybercab isn’t exactly a widespread and reliable service, no matter what Musk claims. About 500 Cybercabs are registered in Texas, with most in Austin. Being registered, however, doesn’t mean they are active, functioning, or safe to use. Musk also claimed that the Cybercab would be running in a dozen or so states by the end of 2026. While the Cybercab has been spotted testing in a few states, it’s still just in Texas. And it’s barely running as intended out there.

I’m sorry @elonmusk , but Cybercab isn’t going to be sustainable. Getting rid of Tesla consumer vehicles for people to buy isn’t the best strategy. Obviously it’s your company and you know what’s best for your companies…you probably want to avoid a Cybercab only world.

Sane people don’t want to live in a Cybercab/Robotaxi transportation-only world. People want to own things. It’s just fact. Maybe your plans are different from what your leading on with.?

— Jayme and Andy’s Tesla Adventures (@jandatesla) November 13, 2026

Cybercab for customers?

Earlier on Friday, November 13, the official Cybercab account announced that “select customers” would be able to purchase the vehicle for personal use.

Select customers are now being invited to purchase Cybercab for personal use https://t.co/LDIkKuseAZ

— Robotaxi (@robotaxi) November 13, 2026

I am really unsure how this is legal. The Cybercab has no steering wheel, no pedals, and no sensors. It seems like it should be barely legal as a taxi service, let alone in the hands of private customers.

One catch, of course, is that the Cybercab has a required subscription that’s $299 per month. That’s $3,588 a year. And this doesn’t even include insurance, which will probably be insane, seeing as the Cybercab cannot be controlled by a human at all, even if it should be. Some estimates say that’s $800 a month.

At this point, owning a Cybercab isn’t an option for most drivers, whether because of the insane ongoing costs or because only “select customers” can have it. This means Tesla is still largely taking away the freedom to drive from most American drivers. Not to mention it’s “only available in supported services areas,” which appears to just be basically Austin right now.

The future of Tesla’s passenger vehicles

While it’s refreshing to see Tesla drivers actually question the company rather than blindly believe and like everything, there are, of course, many believers.

When one Tesla driver noted that it seemed as though Tesla was “slowly removing” the Model Y, a reply stated: “It’s probably the least ordered Model Y to be fair, and demand is super high, and I own a Model Y AWD standard… Most people just bump up to the premium trim if they go AWD; financing through the standard AWD was better for us cause we needed AWD. The demand is super high, and it’s easier for them to dedicate all the AWD models to the premium trim. It’s just economics.”

Another Tesla fan said they didn’t see the Model Y leaving for another five years. People just want it way too much!

I don’t truly know what Tesla has planned for its passenger vehicles. I think it’s safe to say, however, that the company really does seem to try to capitalize on things in a pretty desperate way. The Cybertruck is gone, but you can buy a Cybertruck RC Racer! Basic Autopilot is gone, but you can buy FSD! The Tesla Model Y’s cheap trim is gone, but you can still pay $9,000 more for the other one! It almost feels like these kinda sales are forced on Tesla’s biggest fans.

Trucks ❌
Trinkets ✅

— JerryRigEverything (@ZacksJerryRig) November 11, 2026

I mean, just look at the responses to the Cybertruck toy and you can smell the defensiveness.

“Seems cool. Just in time for Christmas,” said one guy who will apparently buy anything.

“That’s awesome, thanks for posting it; I will buy one,” said another who will totally own the non-believers by wasting money on a remote-controlled Cybertruck.

But the vultures are circling. They can smell blood. Tesla is in trouble. Even some of its biggest believers can see the shadows, can hear the wings flapping. Tesla never admits failure. It just removes the failures and has its fans spin the decision positively.

That Model Y trim? Don’t worry. Tesla removed it because the Model Y is just so popular and awesome sauce and based.

B

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Why does the Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals need special approval?

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