Prototypes of Tesla’s new Cybercab robotaxi were reportedly spotted testing in Austin this week, according to social media posts.
But the Cybercab is meant to be the Austin-based automaker’s first vehicle designed solely for autonomous ride-hailing. When it was unveiled in October 2024, Tesla promoted the Cybercab as a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or foot pedals.
Posts shared on Reddit this week, however, appeared to show Cybercab prototypes testing on South Lamar Avenue with a steering wheel installed and a safety monitor riding in the front passenger seat.
The sightings have fueled a debate over the vehicle’s design. While steering wheels are commonly used during testing phases, some have questioned whether Tesla can ultimately adhere to CEO Elon Musk’s vision of a vehicle without them.
Shortly after an investor call in October, some company officials hinted that the two-seater robotaxi could become the company’s more affordable EV option and might include pedals and a steering wheel to make it usable for a broader range of customers.
The company has faced ongoing criticism over its self-driving technology, with multiple probes opened by federal regulators examining reports that driverless robotaxis drove erratically and illegally in Austin shortly after their June launch. The company’s Full Self-Driving mode, which is available in all Tesla vehicles, has also faced intense scrutiny following several crashes.
Concerns about the reliability of Tesla’s self-driving technology have intensified in recent months, and the presence of steering wheels in Cybercab prototypes has fueled speculation that the company may scale back its original design plans. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles recently accused Tesla of misleading consumers about the capabilities of its self-driving technology, a claim the company has disputed.
Heading into 2026, Tesla Inc. is gearing up to ramp up production of its Cybercabs, especially as Musk has pushed an autonomy and robotaxi agenda that the company has yet to bring to full fruition.
Tesla recently went on a hiring spree at Gigafactory Texas, located just east of Austin, for Cybercab production personnel. The EV maker posted at least 30 new positions tied to the Cybercab in late October.
