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Tesla Cybercab's Hidden Virtual Joystick Surprises Austin Riders

1 month ago

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Days after launching in Austin, Tesla Cybercab riders found a secret on-screen joystick with forward, reverse, stop and horn controls in a wheel-free robotaxi.

Tesla built the Cybercab with no steering wheel and no pedals - a robotaxi meant to prove manual driving is a relic. Then, less than a week after its Austin launch, riders found a hidden way to take the wheel that never was.

A Taxi Without A Wheel

The Tesla Cybercab is defined by what it lacks: no steering wheel, no pedals, no obvious way for a human to drive it. Officially launched in Austin, Texas, it was designed as a fully autonomous vehicle - manual control was supposed to be impossible by design.

Hidden Controls Found In Days

Less than a week after the Austin launch, riders discovered the Cybercab's secret manual controls. At least two videos posted on X show passengers encountering a virtual joystick on the central display, apparently meant only for Tesla employees rather than paying customers.

Forward, Reverse, Stop, Horn

A square screen appears in the lower left corner of the display, with a toggle in the middle for manual driving: "forward" at the top, "reverse" at the bottom. Extra buttons let a user stop the vehicle, sound the horn, and manually open the Cybercab's doors.

A Frozen Supercharger On Screen

To the right of the joystick sit live camera views of the vehicle's surroundings. In one rider's video, though, the image was frozen - stuck on a Tesla Supercharger from a previous location, hinting the controls surfaced as an early software bug.

Built To Nudge Parked Cars

The contols appear intended for Tesla employees and depot workers who need to nudge a Cybercab into a tight space at low speeds or rearrange vehicles in a lot. It spares them from calling Tesla's control center or summoning a remote operator.

Police Briefed, Riders Locked Out

Tesla has briefed Austin's police department on the Cybercab service, and the joystick could theoretically help responders move a stalled car. The customers who found it tried to steer - unsuccessfully. The controls didn't work, likely an early glitch Tesla will patch before wider release.

Tesla Cybercab, virtual joystick, Austin robotaxi, manual controls, autonomous vehicle, Tesla Supercharger, self-driving car

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