Tesla Unveils Cybercab Details: New Platform, 4680 Battery, and 48V Electrical Architecture

In its newly released "2025 Impact Report," Tesla has disclosed multiple technical details about its upcoming Cybercab autonomous ride-hailing vehicle. Designed as a two-seater exclusively for Robotaxi services, the Cybercab is built on an all-new next-generation platform aimed at achieving ultra-low cost and exceptional energy efficiency. The Cybercab will feature a next-generation powertrain, targeting an energy efficiency of 6.1 miles per kilowatt-hour (approximately 9.8 km/kWh)—surpassing that of the Model Y AWD and several other mainstream electric vehicles. If achieved, it would become the most energy-efficient mass-produced EV globally. This high efficiency helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions per mile by nearly half compared to the Model 3 and Model Y. To lower costs and reduce reliance on scarce minerals, Tesla has developed a new drive unit incorporating several in-house technologies, including 4680 cylindrical cells, steer-by-wire systems, and a 48V low-voltage electrical architecture. The 48V system enhances power delivery efficiency while reducing wiring harness weight and complexity. The vehicle is equipped with both a 48V low-voltage lithium-ion battery and a 400V high-voltage traction battery pack, supporting SAE Level 4 autonomous driving. The Cybercab also features an FSD (Full Self-Driving) computer more powerful than those in current consumer Tesla models, along with dual GPS systems to improve positioning accuracy. Test vehicles have already eliminated the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, and brake pedal, operating entirely via the autonomous driving system. On the production front, the Cybercab utilizes a new manufacturing process called "Unboxed," which enables multiple modules to be built simultaneously before final assembly—boosting efficiency and reducing factory footprint. The vehicle’s exterior body panels are produced using lightweight Reaction Injection Molding (RIM), with pigments directly mixed into the material during molding, eliminating the traditional painting process and significantly shortening the production cycle. Tesla began Cybercab mass production at its Texas Gigafactory in spring 2024 and has recently commenced public road testing in Austin.