Elon Musk introduces the Tesla Cybercab, a purpose-built autonomous vehicle designed for ride-hailing services.
Tesla launched the Cybercab in Austin, Texas, as a dedicated autonomous ride-hailing vehicle. The model features seating for two and lacks conventional driver controls, such as a steering wheel or pedals. Instead, the vehicle utilizes cameras and sensors to navigate, utilizing technology similar to the Full Self-Driving system. Matthew Skrzypczack discovered a virtual joystick on the vehicle's screen during a ride, which appeared to offer a manual control option despite the lack of traditional hardware. This feature may be part of an engineering or service mode used by technicians. Elon Musk stated that the Cybercab's motor contains no rare earths, a move intended to strengthen supply chain security. However, David Zhang noted that the rare-earth-free motor remains a commercial concept and may not yet match the performance of conventional motors. The Cybercab is part of Tesla's broader expansion into autonomous transportation, following the company's robotaxi operations in Austin and other U.S. locations.
Sources
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The Tesla Cybercab—Which ‘Doesn’t Need Manual Controls’— Has Secret Manual Controls
motortrend.com
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