The Story
A Tesla Cybercab prototype spotted charging in Los Angeles revealed a low-mounted NACS port, mismatched tires, and a temporary steering yoke.
It looked close to the concept, but this robotaxi’s testing hardware told a different story. Like it or not, Tesla’s gilded Cybercab robotaxi is coming to your city someday. Prototype versions of the autonomous coupe have started popping up on the streets of MotorTrend’s hometown of Los Angeles, and we’ve finally caught one unattended while plugged into a Supercharger station…
Cybercab Prototype vs. ConceptMuch of what we saw is in line with the Cybercab concept revealed by Tesla at its Warner Bros. Discovery Movie studios debut, though there are notable differences. Some were merely cosmetic. The prototype’s gold paint was glossy and metallic, not matte, and its tires lacked a band of gold paint.
We also caught a glimpse of the Cybercab’s charge port location, which is low to the ground rather than at the top of the rear driver-side fender like the rest of Tesla’s current lineup. The Cybercab is supposed to launch with inductive charging, but this conventional NACS port serves as the means by which the two-door Tesla charges at traditional Supercharger stations.…
“Driver” is a crucial operating word here, because the Cybercab prototype has a glaring difference that sets it apart from the demo unit we rode inside during the robotaxi’s heavily choreographed debut.
Peeking inside the window of the unsupervised test mule, we spied a yoke-style steering wheel bolted to the dash with a bracket. Upon closer inspection, there was a Cybertruck logo in the center of the yoke, answering our question as to where in the Tesla parts bin the steering apparatus was sourced.
Why It Matters
“Driver” is a crucial operating word here, because the Cybercab prototype has a glaring difference that sets it apart from the demo unit we rode inside during the robotaxi’s heavily choreographed debut.
CarMotion Daily’s Take
If Tesla delivers, this is the kind of EV move competitors will have to answer.
📝 Source & Copyright Notice
This story was first reported by MotorTrend. For the full article with original photography and complete coverage, visit the source: Read the full story at MotorTrend →