Updated

Less than a week after Tesla's driverless Cybercab launched in Austin, Texas, riders discovered a hidden virtual joystick allowing manual control of the vehicle, despite the car being designed without a steering wheel or pedals. The feature appears intended only for Tesla employees to intervene remotely or on-site if needed. A reporter who rode inside the steering-wheel-free Cybercab described an hour-long experience marked by awkward real-world interactions, including the vehicle partially blocking a narrow road near a popular swimming hole in Austin and drawing frustrated stares from bystanders as it sat idle with lights flashing, highlighting ongoing questions about how the driverless design handles everyday urban situations.