Tesla Cybercab has a hidden virtual joystick to drive it manually

This story is about Tesla's Cybercab, not home energy upgrades, but here's what happened for those following the EV world. A rider posted video showing his Cybercab's touchscreen displaying a hidden virtual joystick, a way to steer the car by dragging a finger across the screen. Tesla built the Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals, betting entirely on self-driving technology, but this footage suggests there's still a manual backup buried in the software for moving the car by hand in tight spots or depots.

The discovery comes just days after Tesla launched the Cybercab in Austin, and after federal safety regulators (NHTSA) opened an audit into how Tesla certified a car with no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, a review covering roughly 1,000 vehicles. Tesla's leadership has previously said the car could get real physical controls added back if regulators require it.

None of this affects home energy costs or upgrades directly. It's a glimpse into how a driverless car company is handling the gap between "fully autonomous" marketing and the practical need for a human to occasionally take control. If you're weighing an EV purchase or already charging one at home, this doesn't change your options or costs, it's simply a notable wrinkle in how robotaxis are being built and regulated.