GoKawiilTesla Cybercab hides a virtual joystick meant for employee use
Riders in Austin discovered a hidden on-screen control panel in Tesla's driverless Cybercab, featuring a virtual joystick with forward/reverse toggles, a stop button, horn, and manual door controls. The interface appeared in the lower left of the central display alongside live camera feeds, though passengers who tried to activate it found the controls unresponsive.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The discovery reveals that even a vehicle designed with no steering wheel or pedals still needs a manual override system for practical fleet operations like repositioning cars in depots or clearing roadways during emergencies. It raises questions about who else might access these controls and whether Tesla has properly secured this backend feature from public-facing screens, especially as the robotaxi service is just days into its Austin rollout.
- Cybercab riders found a hidden virtual joystick interface intended for Tesla staff, not passengers
- The controls include forward/reverse toggle, stop, horn, and manual door buttons alongside live camera views
- Attempts by riders to activate the controls failed, suggesting the feature was locked or non-functional for the public
Source: theverge.com — Andrew J. Hawkins, 2026-09-08
Published there as: “Tesla Cybercab doesn’t have any manual controls — but it does have a virtual joystick”
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