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Elon Musk’s Boring Company shows off a very complete looking test tunnel in latest teaser image
The Boring Company recently shared an image of a section of its test tunnel under Hawthorne, CA, giving fans its clearest look yet.
With “rings on rings“, The Boring Company’s tunnels are anything but boring. In a request for tax exclusion submitted to the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority last December, the tunneling startup stated that it intends to develop and use a new type of concrete for its tunnel linings.
The Boring Company’s tunnel under Hawthorne, CA. [Credit: The Boring Company/Twitter]
According to the tunneling startup’s filings last December, “advanced materials” would be used to manufacture the tunnels’ concrete walls. The concrete that will be used in the tunnels themselves will not be regular concrete, as the Boring Co. is designing the material to reach strengths in excess of 6,500 pounds per square inch. The concrete being developed by the company is also designed to be capable of fully setting in just 1-7 days, far quicker than the 28 days usually required by conventional concrete.
With this special formulation, The Boring Company expects to produce concrete tunnel linings that are incredibly dense, less permeable, and fully resistant to corrosion. A fully-automated carousel system to transport and set the concrete rings on the tunnels without human assistance is also being planned. With such a system in place, the Boring Co. is expecting to complete its tunneling projects faster.
While the Boring Company is arguably a hobby for the ultra-busy Elon Musk, and while the company courts fun headlines over its unique merchandise such as the Not-a-Flamethrower and the Boring Bricks (an Ice Blaster is said to be on the way), the startup does have the potential to be just as disruptive in the tunneling industry as Tesla is to the automotive market. During the company’s Information Session back in May, Elon Musk noted that the Boring Company is aiming to drill and lay tunnel walls simultaneously while transporting dirt using battery-powered locomotives. These locomotives will feature Tesla technology, with the machines being powered by two Model 3 electric motors.
The potential disruption of the Boring Company in the public transportation industry appears to have been one of the key factors behind the startup’s selection as the contractor of choice for Chicago’s planned downtown-O’Hare high-speed transport project. The bidding for the high-profile project involved several key infrastructure companies, including O’Hare Xpress LLC, a consortium comprised of participants from Antarctica Capital, Meridiam, First Transit, JLC Infrastructure, and UK-based Mott MacDonald, the design engineer for London’s Heathrow airport terminal. Despite the relative inexperience of the Boring Company compared to O’Hare Xpress LLC, the government of Chicago opted to award the project to the tunneling startup.
As the company prepares to break ground on its Chicago project, its tunnel in LA is set to offer free demo rides to the public soon, pending final regulatory approvals. If this recent video from the tunneling startup is any indication, these demo rides might end up a very colorful affair.
Colors! pic.twitter.com/qwsn7Myude
— The Boring Company (@boringcompany) July 13, 2018
Tesla has updated its Robotaxi app so riders can pick which vehicle they want before they book. The latest in-app screens now show two options side by side: the two-seat Cybercab and the four-seat Model Y.
A screenshot circulating Thursday shows the change in practice. In Austin, a rider could choose a gold Cybercab for two people or a Model Y for four. Tesla’s updated description calls Cybercab “our first purpose-built autonomous vehicle,” designed for safety, accessibility, and comfort, and says the lineup is available only through the Robotaxi app.
Tesla has updated their Robotaxi page in the App Store. You’ll be able to select if you want a Cybercab or Model Y Robotaxi.
“Our Robotaxi vehicle lineup now includes Cybercab, our first purpose-built autonomous vehicle. Designed for safety, accessibility and comfort, Cybercab… pic.twitter.com/Jff4klilDr
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
The distinction is more than cosmetic, and it’s important to note that Robotaxi refers to the platform, while Cybercab refers to a vehicle.
Model Y Robotaxis have carried the service since it opened in Austin in mid-2025 and later expanded to Dallas, Houston, and parts of Florida. Those vehicles are converted production SUVs that still have steering wheels and pedals.
Cybercab is different. It has no driver controls, butterfly doors, a low seat height meant to work with wheelchairs, extra trunk space for assistive devices, and braille on the handles. Tesla has registered dozens of the two-seaters with Texas regulators in the days leading up to its September 3 Austin event.
Giving riders a choice lets Tesla match the vehicle to the trip. Most rides involve one or two people, which is where Cybercab is meant to be cheaper and more efficient to operate. Groups of three or four, or anyone who needs more space, can still request a Model Y.
The same app handles booking, payment, cabin settings, and, on Cybercab, features such as phone-based door opening and in-cabin voice controls.
The update does not mean every city suddenly has both cars available. Cybercab support is listed for Austin first, and the purpose-built fleet is still small compared with the existing Model Y roster. Even so, the app change marks a shift from a single-vehicle pilot to a mixed fleet.
Riders can now choose between the compact, purpose-built robotaxi and the familiar SUV that launched the service.
Tesla Cybercab sightings are broadening far and wide, well outside of downtown Austin, Texas, with autonomy in focus as the company plans to launch the all-electric, two-seater this evening in the Lone Star State.
Tesla is set to launch Cybercab to a small group of people this evening in a dedicated event in Austin, Texas. Public details on the event are relatively slim.
However, Tesla’s focus on Cybercab falls well outside of the downtown Austin area and is expanding well across the United States as things continue to move quickly with the company’s autonomous efforts in 2026. Today, various images of Cybercab fleets in interesting locations have started to circulate.
The most notable is a fleet of at least 20 Cybercabs at Miami International Airport in Florida. Spotted last night, the fleet is expansive and is indicative of a looming release of Cybercabs once regulatory boxes are checked off.
Tesla has already been operating the Robotaxi platform in Miami for several months, but this Cybercab fleet at the airport could be joining the ride-hailing platform as approvals arrive:
20+ Cybercabs spotted near Miami international airport. pic.twitter.com/ORLsw8yFhf
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
Another fleet of Cybercabs was spotted at the Devon, PA showroom just outside of Philadelphia. We have seen several Cybercab units testing around the Philadelphia Metro Area, which is interesting considering Tesla does not have any active Robotaxi geofence in Pennsylvania.
Cybercab at the Devon location in PA has multiplied over the weekend. Seeing a few more test vehicles in the lot 👀 pic.twitter.com/DhJT4P1EkU
— Billy (@billykyle) August 22, 2026
Philadelphia would be an ideal location to test ride-hailing due to its dense tourist population, large, sprawling city layout, and to compete with other ride-hailing companies that operate in the city.
Expansive fleets of Cybercabs will be popping up in and around major cities throughout the rest of the year, if we were betting on it. Tesla has made it obvious that the Cybercab rollout will be aggressive and fast-paced, but within reason. Tesla is still prioritizing safety, so these testing phases will likely go on for some period of time before more members of the public are able to snag a Cybercab for a personal chariot.
The Tesla Model Y L is arguably the most hyped trim of the all-electric crossover, other than the Performance configuration that comes with white-knuckle speed and sports car-level handling.
However, it is not all perfect. Tesla owners in China who took delivery of the Model Y L, denoted with an L to highlight its longer wheelbase, are experiencing what they are referring to as “collapsing” of the rear wheels, as suspension issues appear to be an issue with some of the builds.
🚨 Model Y L owners in China report rear suspension sag
• Six-seat long-wheelbase Y. Shanghai. On sale since August 2025
• Owners say the rear tire-to-arch gap shrinks after mileage or a full load. Some cases after about 9,000 km loaded. Others near 30,000 km
• Tesla service… pic.twitter.com/Lr6i5Tbi07— Joe Hansen (@joehansen) September 1, 2026
The gap between the wheel arch and tire has narrowed to the point that “not even a single finger” could fit, according to a report from Car News China. The failures are not tied to a specific mileage, as one owner said that after just 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles), they noticed the suspension issue when their car was fully loaded.
Another one had the issue at 30,000 kilometers (18,640 miles) and noticed that the wheel gap shrank to two fingers, so not as drastic as the person who reported a similar issue at 9,000 km.
Tesla Model Y L is gaining momentum in China’s premium segment
Along with the visual recognition of the issue, others are saying the sagging is causing abnormal wear on the inside of the tires. Extra weight and instant torque already provide additional stress on the tires in electric vehicles during normal operation, so it is no surprise that this is another complaint.
There has been no recall issued by Tesla, and the company has not yet publicly acknowledged the issue.
Some are suggesting that owners use a “finger test” to self-diagnose whether there is an issue with the suspension. There should be four fingers between the tire and the wheel well; anything less than that starts to get dicey.
Tesla Robotaxi riders will face the best dilemma when booking a ride
Tesla Cybercab sightings broaden well outside of Austin with autonomy in focus
