Tesla’s CyberCab lacks a traditional steering wheel but can be operated using a video game controller.
The Tesla CyberCab stunned the world when it debuted without any traditional driver controls—no steering wheel, no pedals, nothing for a front-seat occupant to physically manage the car or override its software. Instead, Tesla’s solution is straight out of a video game: controlling the car with a game controller.
This revelation comes from a report by A known car media, citing sources at the Petersen Museum, where the CyberCab is on display until the end of the year. According to the report, Tesla’s unconventional approach involves a small Xbox-style game controller plugged into the car to manage steering and pedal inputs—since there’s no built-in hardware for these functions.
Questions surrounding the CyberCab’s controls arose after the Petersen Museum shared behind-the-scenes footage of the vehicle’s arrival. In the video (embedded above), the CyberCab is seen navigating a ramp with someone seated in the front. Observers speculated that manual intervention was required, as Tesla’s FSD software likely couldn’t handle navigating inside a building.
It turns out they were right.
A known car media reports that sources confirmed the car was manually controlled during its time in the museum. Additionally, the sources revealed the CyberCab could also be operated wirelessly from outside, functioning like a large remote-controlled vehicle.
This aligns with Tesla’s broader strategy, as the company plans to employ a fleet of robotaxi operators to serve as safety monitors for its autonomous vehicles. These teleoperators will remotely address safety or navigation challenges that the robotaxis can’t resolve independently. This system mirrors Waymo’s approach, where remote operators assist with decisions like determining which lane to avoid due to obstacles such as construction. Tesla’s robotaxi fleet, which the company aims to launch before 2027, will also rely on these operators to ensure safe and reliable operations.
However, Tesla faces several hurdles before launching its service. It must address logistical issues like vehicle cleaning and maintenance—challenges that led General Motors to scale back its Cruise robotaxi ambitions due to high operational costs. Tesla also needs to determine its launch location, with recent reports suggesting Texas as a frontrunner due to its lenient regulations on autonomous vehicles.
Tesla’s ambitions extend beyond fleet operations, as it plans to offer CyberCabs for public purchase. This raises questions about how private owners would handle unexpected situations. Would they need their own Tesla controllers to manually operate the vehicle if it veered outside its design parameters? Current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards would need to evolve before such controller-operated cars could become street-legal. However, with Elon Musk’s reportedly strong relationship with the president-elect, regulatory changes might not be far-fetched.
