Tesla tests Cybercab prototype with Cybertruck steering wheel in Berkeley

A pre-production Tesla Cybercab was observed parked on a Berkeley street, displaying a Cybertruck steering wheel bolted to an exposed steering column that has been added for testing purposes. The vehicle, a two-seat robotaxi originally unveiled in October 2024 with no steering wheel, pedals or mirrors, is intended to operate autonomously and is priced under $30,000.

Tesla has been producing steering-wheel-less units at its Texas factory, but prototypes tested on public roads require a human driver, prompting the addition of a temporary steering rig. The wheel is the squared-off Cybertruck model, attached to a fabricated mount with an adjustable rail that serves as a makeshift driver interface.

The car bears a Texas manufacturer plate and a “CYBERCAB” vanity plate, and is wrapped in the gold-ish finish used on other test units. Witness Adam Machacek noted the vehicle’s compact, city-friendly dimensions, saying it appeared to be the “cheap” Tesla the company had promised.

Tesla maintains that the production Cybercab will have no physical controls, relying on a virtual joystick on the touchscreen for manual maneuvering within depots. However, regulations for autonomous prototype testing on public roads require a human operator, which explains the temporary steering assembly.

"This was my first time seeing this car and I was pleasantly surprised about its overall compact size and city-friendly proportions," Machacek told the outlet.

The images provide the clearest view to date of how Tesla integrates a steering system into a vehicle that, in its final form, is meant to be driverless.