Oops! Many Tesla Cybercabs Actually Do Have Steering Wheels, Undercutting a Core Promise
Tesla Cybercabs are appearing with steering wheels and hidden joystick controls, contradicting the company's promise of a wheel-less autonomous taxi. While Elon Musk marketed the vehicle without pedals, mirrors, or steering wheels, reports indicate some units possess these manual interfaces. This discrepancy comes as US safety regulators launch an audit of approximately 1,000 vehicles regarding Tesla's self-certification process. Simultaneously, the lack of steering wheels in some models has drawn warnings from Texas fire departments regarding emergency vehicle recovery.
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- ✓ US safety regulators have opened an audit of about 1,000 cars over Tesla's self-certification.
- ✓ Tesla Cybercabs have begun operating on the streets of New York City.
- ✓ The Cybercab was designed to operate without pedals, mirrors, or a steering wheel.
What changed
Reports surfaced that many Cybercabs include steering wheels and hidden joysticks for low-speed maneuvering.
Live updates
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Tesla Cybercab Manual Controls Surface Amid Regulatory Audit
Tesla Cybercabs are appearing with steering wheels and hidden joystick controls, contradicting the company's promise of a wheel-less autonomous taxi. While Elon Musk marketed the vehicle without pedals, mirrors, or steering wheels, reports indicate some units possess these manual interfaces. This discrepancy comes as US safety regulators launch an audit of approximately 1,000 vehicles regarding Tesla's self-certification process. Simultaneously, the lack of steering wheels in some models has drawn warnings from Texas fire departments regarding emergency vehicle recovery.
Why it matters
The Cybercab was designed as a fully autonomous robotaxi to eliminate human driving interfaces. The discovery of manual controls suggests a gap between the product's marketing and its actual deployment. This raises legal questions about how the cars are certified for public roads.
What is confirmed
- US safety regulators have opened an audit of about 1,000 cars over Tesla's self-certification.
- Tesla Cybercabs have begun operating on the streets of New York City.
- The Cybercab was designed to operate without pedals, mirrors, or a steering wheel.
Still unconfirmed
- A software glitch caused a Tesla Cybercab robotaxi ride to fail.
- Texas fire departments expressed concern over the lack of steering wheels in the Cybercab.
What to watch next
- Results of the US safety regulator audit of 1,000 vehicles
- Official Tesla confirmation regarding the presence of manual controls in production units
confidence 80%Sources used for this update (10)
- MotorTrend — Tesla Cybercab First Ride: What It’s Really Like to Use Tesla’s New Autonomous Taxi
- NBC News — Tesla Cybercab draws concern from Texas fire department over lack of steering wheel
- Gothamist — Autonomous Tesla Cybercabs hit the streets of New York City
- Car and Driver — Tesla Reinvents the Steering Wheel Once Again with Hidden Cybercab Joystick Controls
- MotorTrend — A Software Glitch Took Down Our Tesla Cybercab Robotaxi Ride
- Futurism — Firefighters Say There’s a Glaring Issue With Tesla’s Cybercab
- Futurism — There’s a Huge Economic Problem With Tesla’s Cybercabs
- Futurism — Oops! Many Tesla Cybercabs Actually Do Have Steering Wheels, Undercutting a Core Promise
- The Times of India — Elon Musk's Cybercab has no steering wheel, pedals or mirrors; US safety regulators open audit of about 1,000 cars over Tesla's self-certification
- autos.yahoo.com — Tesla Cybercab’s Hidden Joystick Adds a New Twist to Its Autonomy Story, and the NHTSA May Want Answers
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