Tesla's Cybercab might have a steering wheel and pedals after all

Tesla's Cybercab was originally envisioned as an autonomous taxi without a steering wheel or pedals, but it might be a lot more like a regular car at launch.

Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm spelled it out quite clearly in an interview with Bloomberg. "If we have to have a steering wheel, it can have a steering wheel and pedals," she said.

This is in contrast with what Tesla CEO Elon Musk originally wanted for the Cybercab. "If you try to make a car that is essentially a hybrid, manual, automatic car, it's not going to be as good as a dedicated autonomous car," Musk said during Cybercab's unveiling. "So, yes, Cybercab is just not going to have steering wheels and pedals."

The reason for the company's change in attitude towards steering wheels and pedals are likely regulations. U.S. regulators currently do allow manufacturers to produce passenger cars without a steering wheel or pedals, but only in a limited capacity.

During the company's earnings call last week, Musk said the Cybercab is launching in Q2 2026, and added that it will be the company's "single biggest expansion in production." During the same call, Musk reiterated that the Cybercab won't have a steering wheel or pedals, saying that the idea is to "minimize cost per mile of operation."

Tesla's main problem here is the fact that the company simply hasn't solved fully autonomous driving just yet. Even its Model Y-based Robotaxis in the San Francisco Bay Area aren't actually autonomous; there's currently a human present behind the steering wheel during rides. The company will likely have to either postpone the launch or make the tough decision to make the Cybercab a lot more like a regular car, and then get rid of the steering wheel and pedals later.