Tesla is letting a small group of customers order its driverless Cybercab, but the fine print makes it look like a bad deal for buyers.

• The robotaxi costs just under $30,000, plus a required $300-a-month "autonomy" subscription just to use it — and Tesla can raise that fee anytime with only a month's notice.
• Buyers don't fully control the car: Tesla can lock owners out for a week or longer for "unauthorized" use, bans custom wraps, tint, or wheels unless done through Tesla, and kids under 13 aren't allowed to ride at all.
• It only works in small, geofenced parts of a few Texas cities for now, has no steering wheel or pedals, and is for personal use only — no renting it out like a real cab.
• This rollout comes as Tesla faces backlash over ending the Cybertruck and as talk heats up of a SpaceX-Tesla merger, raising questions about whether Tesla needs a cash boost.

Outlook: Expect slow, limited deliveries starting around December with heavy restrictions, while investors watch whether the rumored SpaceX-Tesla merger moves forward.