Tesla’s Cybercab Spotted with Rear Camera Washer; No Side Mirrors

Credit: Fbombbaggers/IG

Two significant sightings this week revealed new details about Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi. In Chicago, a winter engineering prototype was observed with a feature Tesla owners have requested for years, while in Austin another prototype showed the vehicle nearing its final form.

Rear Camera Washer Confirmed

An engineering-validation Cybercab testing on the salty, slushy roads of Chicago has confirmed the addition of a rear camera washer.

Photos shared on X show the vehicle’s rear camera housing and surrounding areas are wet and clean, even though the rest of the bodywork is coated in winter road grime.

Tesla had previously resisted adding camera washers to its vehicles. The company did add a washer to the front bumper camera more recently, but other cameras remained without a dedicated cleaning system until now.

Front cameras benefit from being behind the windshield, but the rear camera is easily obscured by road debris. Early last year, Tesla announced that it was working on a “comprehensive cleaning solution,” and this may be the first visible example of that work.

For a vehicle intended to operate without a driver, a blocked camera is a critical failure point. The presence of a washer indicates Tesla is addressing the limitations of a vision-only approach that can require occasional human intervention; an automated, proven cleaning system is a straightforward solution.

Visually, the rear washer appears similar to the front bumper solution: water is sprayed onto the lens to remove debris.

The key question is whether this rear camera washer will be added to other models. If Tesla determines it improves Full Self-Driving reliability, it’s likely the same approach will be rolled out across the lineup.

The Mirrorless Prototype

Credit: @AdanGuajardo

While the Chicago unit was being tested in winter conditions, a prototype in Austin was spotted operating without side mirrors for the first time.

Earlier Texas test mules had standard side mirrors alongside steering wheels and pedals to comply with local and FMVSS regulations. This newer unit has removed the mirrors entirely, relying on fender cameras for external visibility.

Notably, the mirrorless vehicle still carries temporary human controls. Tesla remains in early engineering validation, where a human safety engineer must be ready to take over even as the external hardware approaches the Robotaxi configuration.

Production Looms

Credit: @AdanGuajardo

These two sightings together clarify Tesla’s development path for the Cybercab: the Chicago prototype is stress-testing sensors to ensure performance in harsh weather, while the Austin units are validating aerodynamics and software behavior without mirrors.

For current Tesla owners, the hope is that the rear camera washer won’t be exclusive to the Cybercab and will instead be introduced across Tesla’s other models in the near future.