Tesla Cybercab Test Mule Reveals Temporary Steering Rig

A pre-production Tesla Cybercab recently spotted in Berkeley, California, offers a rare look inside the vehicle’s cockpit. The photos, shared with Electrek by reader Adam Machacek, reveal that the two-seat robotaxi is not operating without human controls. Instead, it features a steering wheel borrowed from the Cybertruck, mounted on an exposed column bolted into the dashboard.

This hardware contradicts the vehicle's original design pitch, which promised a car with no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors. While Tesla markets the Cybercab as a fully autonomous ride, the version currently testing on public roads relies on a temporary rig to allow a human driver to take control. This setup underscores the regulatory and technical hurdles Tesla still faces before deploying a driverless fleet.

Borrowed Hardware for Testing

The steering assembly visible in the photos is not a custom part. It is the squared-off wheel from the Cybertruck, attached to a fabricated steering column. The interior panels around the wheel are missing, exposing the raw metal mount and an adjustable rail. This indicates a temporary engineering solution rather than a permanent design feature.

The vehicle itself wears a Texas manufacturer plate and a gold-colored wrap, consistent with other test units seen in Austin. Observers noted the car’s compact, angular shape, suggesting it remains true to the small footprint Tesla initially envisioned for a low-cost electric vehicle. The physical presence of the wheel confirms that the car is currently a mule, not a finished product.

Regulations Require Human Oversight

Tesla’s public stance is that the production Cybercab will rely entirely on software and sensors, with no physical controls for a driver. For low-speed movement in depots, the company uses a virtual joystick on the touchscreen. However, driving on public roads is a different matter. Traffic laws generally require autonomous test vehicles to have a human operator who can intervene in an emergency.

Until the software is robust enough to handle all real-world scenarios without error, Tesla must include a human safety driver. This necessitates physical controls. The bolted-on Cybertruck wheel serves as a bridge between the prototype phase and the final autonomous deployment, allowing engineers to collect data while keeping a person in the loop.

Production Before Software Readiness

The situation highlights a significant contradiction in Tesla’s strategy. The company has begun mass-producing the wheel-less Cybercab at its Texas facility, yet the vehicles cannot be sold or deployed at scale because the necessary autonomy software is not yet ready. The test cars on the road are effectively prototypes, using makeshift hardware to validate systems that do not yet function independently.

This is not uncommon in the automotive industry, where engineering mules often feature temporary modifications. However, the scale of Tesla’s production before the software catch-up is notable. The visible steering rig is a clear sign that the vehicle is still in the testing phase, reminding consumers that the seamless, driverless experience promised two years ago is still a work in progress.