Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) has opened its Robotaxi network to third-party fleet operators, inviting businesses to purchase Cybercabs. The move shifts capital and operational burdens to external partners. However, Tesla has not disclosed the revenue-sharing structure for each ride.

The company’s September interest form solicits interest in Cybercab fleet vehicle purchasing, mobility hubs, and infrastructure. This signals a strategy where Tesla may not finance, park, or operate every vehicle itself. Axios reported that this approach could shift the burden of charging, cleaning, and maintenance toward entrepreneurs and fleet operators.

Fleet economics and cost projections

The potential economics drive investor interest in this model. ARK Invest estimates that robotaxis could eventually be priced as low as 25 cents per mile, roughly one-tenth the cost of human-driven ride-hail. While this is a forecast and not a Tesla commitment, it illustrates the scale of the potential cost advantage.

Initial fares in Austin were reportedly roughly 50% below Uber on comparable rides. Tesla states that the Cybercab is designed specifically for its Robotaxi fleet. However, cheap rides alone do not create a valuable platform without clear commercial terms for third-party owners.

Who captures the robotaxi revenue?

Tesla’s support page confirms that commercial fleet buyers can express interest but does not spell out a purchase price, revenue-sharing arrangement, or owner economics. This missing split is critical for determining the business model’s viability.

If outside operators finance the vehicles while Tesla controls software, booking, pricing, and dispatch, Tesla could collect revenue without carrying the full capital burden. This would provide an unusual combination: automaker economics when the Cybercab is sold and platform economics every time it moves a passenger.

The balance of the split will determine who has the incentive to keep buying more vehicles. A fleet operator needs enough revenue to cover the Cybercab, financing, insurance, charging, maintenance, and downtime. Tesla needs enough of each fare to make expanding the network economically meaningful.

What the numbers show

The divergence between the disclosed hardware ambition and the undisclosed software economics creates an information gap. Tesla has demonstrated it can build the vehicle and is now asking others to help scale the fleet. The next catalyst is not simply how many Cybercabs Tesla produces, but how the money from each ride gets divided between Tesla and the people paying for the cars.

Investors should watch for the first major fleet buyers, the number of vehicles they commit to, and the revenue-sharing structure Tesla offers them. If Tesla can attract outside capital while retaining a meaningful portion of every autonomous mile, Cybercab starts looking less like another vehicle launch and more like a recurring-revenue network.

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk reaffirmed that the company has offered its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to legacy manufacturers via licensing deals, but none have accepted so far. This confirmation follows a social media exchange highlighting the lack of industry adoption for Tesla’s autonomous driving suite.

The Licensing Standoff

On Monday, Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl predicted that Tesla FSD would remain an in-house advantage for a couple of years before being offered to other manufacturers. Scholl compared this potential shift to Tesla’s Supercharger network, which was initially exclusive to Tesla EVs before opening up to competitors.

Influencer Sawyer Merritt quoted Scholl’s post, stating that Tesla and Musk had "for years openly invited other automakers to license FSD," but noted that "none" of the manufacturers had accepted. Musk responded to Merritt’s post with a single word: "Exactly," backing the claim that interest from legacy automakers remains absent.

Previous Comments on Interest

This is not the first time Musk has addressed the lack of licensing deals. In November last year, he stated that the FSD system had been offered to legacy automakers, but they showed little interest. At that time, Musk mentioned that when legacy automakers did reach out, they "tepidly" held discussions about implementing FSD for a tiny program in five years.

Technology Approach and Criticism

Tesla’s FSD system has faced criticism for its vision-only approach to autonomous driving. This contrasts with the camera plus LiDAR-based approach that has become common in several other autonomous driving suites.

The system features various speed modes, including a "Mad Max" setting, but it does not offer full autonomy. Drivers are required to remain attentive at all times and be ready to take over driving duties.

Tesla’s AI chief Ashok Elluswamy recently said that Tesla will bet on relying on a "smarter FSD system" rather than company-imposed ceilings. This echoes Musk’s comments from July that the FSD system would become capable of being tailored to individual driver preferences.

Market Reaction

TSLA shares rose 0.15% to $375.79 during pre-market trading on Tuesday.