The Tesla Cybercab, which officially launched in Austin, Texas, lacks traditional steering wheels and pedals. Despite this design, riders discovered a hidden virtual joystick interface on the central display. This interface features a toggle for forward and reverse movement, along with buttons to stop the vehicle, sound the horn, and open doors.
The controls appear to be intended for Tesla employees and depot workers to maneuver vehicles in parking lots or tight spaces at low speeds. This functionality allows staff to move cars without contacting a remote control center. The interface also displays live camera feeds, although some users reported frozen images during their experience.
While Tesla briefed the Austin police department on the service, it remains unclear if these manual controls were discussed as a tool for emergency responders to clear roads. Customers who attempted to use the virtual joystick during rides were unsuccessful in controlling the vehicle, suggesting the feature may be restricted or currently buggy.
Tesla designed the Cybercab as a fully autonomous vehicle to signal that manual controls are obsolete. The appearance of the joystick during customer trips is likely an early software bug that the company will need to address before a wider release of the robotaxi service.
