Cybercab riders may soon be able to see what’s behind and beside them at any point during a ride. After taking a trip in the purpose-built robotaxi, Tesla enthusiast Dan Burkland praised the Cybercab’s software on X and asked Tesla to let riders “pull up the rear & repeater cameras on demand,” adding that it “would be great especially for peace of mind.”
Evan, a UI software engineer at Tesla, replied with a simple update: “In development.” He didn’t say when the feature will be released.
Why Cybercab Riders Want Camera Views
The Cybercab has no side mirrors and no rear-view mirror, so passengers currently have no way to see out the back or toward the sides of the car while riding. Tesla’s Robotaxi software is fed by video from eight external cameras, but riders don’t have access to those.
Right now, the camera feeds only appear when you arrive at your destination. A “Please Exit Safely” screen shows the left repeater, rear, and right repeater camera views side by side, so you can check for traffic, cyclists, or pedestrians before opening a door and stepping out. The screen also reminds riders to take their belongings as they leave.
Riders can’t bring that view up during the trip, though. The upcoming feature would let them pull up the same camera feeds on demand, which could help first-time riders feel more comfortable in a car with no driver, steering wheel, brake pedal, or mirrors.
Part of a Wave of Cybercab Upgrades
On-demand camera views could be one of the “very cool upgrades” Cybercab chief engineer Eric Earley recently teased at the X Takeover event, alongside new seats coming soon to the Cybercab. Tesla has also been surveying Cybercab riders on new cabin features since public rides began in Austin last month.
Tesla is improving the cabin experience as the fleet grows. It now has more than 300 Cybercabs in Austin, and Dallas is next in line for Cybercab rides.
The Cybercab’s complete lack of mirrors has also drawn regulatory attention. Among the 21 questions NHTSA wants Tesla to answer about the Cybercab’s legality are whether it has inside and outside mirrors (spoiler alert: it doesn’t) and how its rearview camera meets federal standards. Tesla recently got a 30-day extension to respond to NHTSA’s Cybercab probe.
Since this is a software change, the existing Cybercab fleet could get on-demand camera views through an update once the feature’s ready, with no new hardware needed.
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