Tesla’s Cybercab Fleet Sales Raise Questions About Profitability

Tesla has recently invited businesses to purchase and operate fleets of its Cybercab robotaxis on the company’s network. This approach echoes Elon Musk’s 2019 proposal that owners could generate income by adding their vehicles to the Tesla Robotaxi network and earning revenue passively. However, this model has yet to materialize as promised. At a September 3 event, Tesla circulated interest forms targeting fleet buyers, suggesting companies could buy Cybercabs, operate them on Tesla’s network, and share in the revenue. Despite this, no widespread profitable robotaxi operations have emerged. Owners who invested in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) package with expectations of taxi income have not been able to run their vehicles as robotaxis, as Tesla operates the service exclusively. A notable example is MisterGreen, a Dutch leasing company that purchased over 4,000 Teslas anticipating value appreciation and robotaxi earnings. Instead, Tesla’s aggressive new-car price cuts led to rapid depreciation of used Teslas, and the expected robotaxi revenue never appeared. MisterGreen declared bankruptcy in late 2025, resulting in significant financial losses for investors. Tesla’s decision to sell Cybercabs to third parties raises questions about the economics of the robotaxi business. Since Tesla controls the entire network, software, pricing, and dispatch, it retains the majority of the revenue and operational control. If operating a Cybercab fleet were genuinely lucrative, Tesla would likely keep the vehicles for itself rather than transferring the capital costs and depreciation risks to external buyers. Industry observers suggest Tesla’s fleet sales represent a strategy to shift financial risk onto buyers while maintaining high-margin software revenues. Past attempts by other companies to build Tesla fleets in anticipation of robotaxi income have also failed to generate sustainable profits. This situation highlights the challenges of relying on promised autonomous vehicle income streams and underscores the importance of scrutinizing the financial viability of such investments. Prospective buyers should carefully consider why Tesla is willing to sell Cybercabs if the business model is as profitable as claimed.