In a revealing moment for autonomous vehicle enthusiasts, new Tesla Cybercab prototypes have been spotted testing in Austin, Texas, sporting unexpected steering wheels and reigniting industry discussions about the company's ambitious self-driving goals.

The sighting, shared on Reddit, captured two Cybercab prototypes driving in tandem on South Lamar, with a key detail catching the attention of automotive experts: manual driving controls were clearly present. This latest observation follows previous prototype spotting at Giga Texas, continuing a pattern that raises intriguing questions about Tesla's autonomous vehicle strategy.

While the presence of steering wheels is typically standard for engineering prototypes undergoing public road testing, the images take on additional significance given CEO Elon Musk's explicit previous statements. At the vehicle's initial unveiling, Musk boldly proclaimed the Cybercab would have "No mirrors, no pedals, no steering wheel" - a vision that seems increasingly complicated as technical realities emerge.

Regulatory requirements currently mandate that autonomous test vehicles include manual controls, allowing a human safety driver to intervene if the self-driving system encounters challenges. However, the ongoing discussion centers on whether Tesla can truly deliver a Level 4 or 5 autonomous vehicle using its current hardware configuration. Tesla Chairwoman Robyn Denholm has even acknowledged the potential need to include a steering wheel, marking a rare deviation from Musk's typically unwavering autonomy narrative.

Technical hurdles compound the complexity, with Tesla's next-generation AI5 chip delayed until mid-2027. This means the Cybercab would likely launch using the current AI4 hardware, which has not yet achieved unsupervised autonomy in existing Model 3 and Y vehicles. The implications are significant: if full autonomy remains elusive in current models, achieving it in the Cybercab by 2026 seems increasingly improbable.

Industry observers, including this journalist, are increasingly convinced that Tesla will need to launch the Cybercab with traditional driving controls. Strict regulations surrounding vehicles without manual controls severely limit commercial viability, with current exemptions capped at minimal volumes like 2,500 units. For Tesla to realize its vision of the Cybercab as a volume growth driver, the vehicle must be comprehensively road-legal.

The most likely scenario appears to be a Cybercab launch featuring a steering wheel and pedals, marketed as a more affordable Tesla model with future robotaxi potential. This approach would mirror Tesla's previous vehicle introduction strategies, prioritizing market entry and incremental technological advancement.

As autonomous vehicle technology continues evolving, the Cybercab prototypes represent more than just a testing phase - they symbolize the complex journey toward truly self-driving transportation. Tesla's willingness to adapt its original vision demonstrates the dynamic nature of innovation, where pragmatic engineering challenges often reshape even the most ambitious technological dreams.