Tesla's Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, but a hidden touchscreen joystick may let humans drive it

Tesla's Cybercab, which eschews a traditional steering wheel and pedals, may still allow human operation through an unconventional interface. A video posted on X reveals an in-car display showcasing a virtual joystick, enabling someone to navigate the robotaxi by dragging a finger across the screen. The rider observed the display changed, displaying the joystick for manual driving, which prompted them to express surprise at its visibility.

The Cybercab operates on a single central touchscreen, with the left side featuring the joystick, instructions such as "Close cabin doors" and "Call support," and a button to contact customer service. Conversely, the right side displays the car's camera feed while parked, though not all imagery appears real-time. The side views appear to depict a prior location near a Supercharger instead of the current position.

Although Tesla hasn't publicly showcased or discussed this manual-driving screen, it addresses a fundamental issue with a control-free vehicle: the need for human intervention at depots, lots, or when blocked. The on-screen joystick serves as Tesla's solution, eliminating the need for a steering wheel and pedals by incorporating control options directly into the software.

This feature emerges just days after the Cybercab's launch in Austin, coinciding with the NHTSA's audit of Tesla's certification process for the steering-free vehicle. The audit involves approximately 1,000 Cybercabs and examines whether Tesla appropriately determined that certain federal safety standards are irrelevant to a fully autonomous vehicle.

While the joystick interface may not undermine Tesla's argument, it serves as a reminder that the Cybercab retains limited human control capabilities, potentially for limited manual maneuvering rather than routine driving. Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has previously acknowledged that a steering wheel and pedals could be reintroduced if necessary.