Tesla App Decompile Confirms Cybercab Will Use Brake-by-Wire

With the latest release of the Tesla app, a code inspection revealed that the Cybercab will include true Brake-by-Wire in addition to steer-by-wire like the Cybertruck.

Code strings discovered in the app include specific references to “Brakes SW - Brake-by-Wire (Cybercab)”, confirming that Tesla’s latest vehicle will abandon the traditional hydraulic link between the pedal and the calipers.

What is Brake-by-Wire?

In a traditional car, pressing the brake pedal mechanically actuates a master cylinder, which uses hydraulic pressure to force brake fluid through the system and clamp the brake pads against the rotors.

In a brake-by-wire system, there is no direct physical connection between the brake pedal and the brakes themselves. Instead, pressing the pedal sends an electronic signal to a computer, which then commands electric actuators or a centrally controlled electric brake system to apply braking force at the wheels.

This mirrors the Steer-by-Wire system on the Cybertruck, in which the steering wheel has no physical linkage connecting it to the wheels.

The Cybercab is currently manually driven, meaning it has pedals that activate the electric signal to brake the vehicle. In an autonomous, pedal-less production vehicle, removing the mechanical link eliminates many of those components, reducing mechanical failure points and lowering production cost.

Cybercab vs Refreshed Model Y

This discovery highlights another key difference between Tesla’s consumer vehicles and its next-gen Robotaxi.

The Refreshed Model Y features a sophisticated hybrid braking system that uses two master cylinders. The primary cylinder is an electronic cylinder, software-controlled for smooth regen blending and braking on FSD. The secondary cylinder is physical, connected to the actual braking system.

That arrangement allows the vehicle to increase efficiency by selectively using regenerative braking even when the user presses the brake pedal. When the driver taps the brakes, the vehicle can decide whether to use the physical brakes, use regenerative braking, or a blend of the two.

In other Tesla vehicles with a single master cylinder, regenerative braking is applied only when the driver lifts their foot off the brake pedal. As soon as the driver taps the brake pedal, the vehicle’s physical brakes engage.

While the Model Y can and does brake electronically, it still retains a physical mechanical link to the brakes as a fail-safe.

The Cybercab, however, appears to be removing the physical link entirely. Since the production Cybercab will have no pedals, there is no need for a mechanical backup loop for a human driver. Instead, the vehicle will likely rely on redundant power sources and motors to ensure the brakes can always engage, even if one electrical circuit fails.

Why Does This Matter?

The absence of pedals in the Cybercab is significant because full Brake-by-Wire provides multiple advantages for Tesla’s current Model Y robotaxis. Eliminating the brake pedal, vacuum boosters, and a firewall-mounted master cylinder frees up interior space for additional passenger legroom.

A fully electronic braking system can also seamlessly blend regenerative braking (using the motors) and friction braking (using the discs) to achieve smoother stops.

Finally, having fewer hydraulic components means less fluid maintenance and fewer mechanical failure points over the vehicle’s intended service life, which is especially important for a Robotaxi.