Tesla is nearing the finish line for its highly anticipated Cybercab, but a new rumor suggests the autonomous vehicle could break a major company tradition. Since its inception, Tesla has exclusively produced rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles, but the Cybercab might be the first to pull instead of push.
According to Kyle Conner of Out of Spec Reviews, there are whispers that Tesla’s robotaxi could be front-wheel drive (FWD). "Heard a rumor that this could be front wheel drive! Thoughts?" Conner recently shared on X. While a move to FWD might seem odd for a performance-oriented company, it could make a lot of sense for a mass-market, ride-hailing workhorse.
Why Front-Wheel Drive?
In the world of car design, FWD is often chosen for efficiency and packaging. By moving the motor and drivetrain to the front, engineers can often maximize interior space and trunk capacity. For a two-seat robotaxi designed to navigate tight city streets, FWD offers predictable handling and better traction in slippery conditions like rain or snow, as the weight of the motor sits directly over the wheels that are doing the pulling.
Tesla is likely looking at every possible way to lower the cost per mile for its Robotaxi service, which the Cybercab is set to frontline. A simplified FWD assembly could be cheaper to manufacture and maintain than a RWD setup, especially for a vehicle that doesn't need to prioritize sporty acceleration or high-speed drifting.
Evidence Against the Rumor
However, recent sightings of the production Cybercab tell a different story. Earlier this month, a unit spotted in Austin — which Conner even showcased in Out of Spec’s recent Cybercab walkthrough video — featured a staggered wheel setup. The front was equipped with 18-inch tires, while the rear used much beefier 21-inch tires. In automotive engineering, putting larger, wider tires in the back is almost always a hallmark of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
FWD cars typically have the same size wheels on all four corners because the front tires already have to handle steering, acceleration, and most of the braking. A staggered setup with massive rear wheels on a FWD car would be highly unusual and inefficient. If Tesla sticks with this staggered design for production, it almost certainly confirms that the motor is driving the rear wheels to handle the instant torque of the electric drivetrain.
Everything We Know So Far
Beyond the drivetrain mystery, the Cybercab is shaping up to be a tech powerhouse. As Tesla prepares to kick off mass production next month, we’ve learned that the vehicle will debut a new one-button door release that combines electronic and manual latches for safety.
The interior is incredibly minimalist, featuring ambient lighting and a massive 21-inch touchscreen with no steering wheel or pedals. Recent sightings have also confirmed the presence of a physical charge port, even though Tesla eventually plans to move to wireless induction charging. To support unsupervised autonomy, the car is covered in cameras (alongside washers for each external camera), including a massive cabin camera and larger front-facing sensors than anything we’ve seen on a Model 3 or Model Y. There’s even a camera in the trunk — a first for a Tesla — that’s likely there to alert passengers if they leave any luggage behind.
Whether it pulls or pushes, the Cybercab is designed to be the backbone of a global ride-hailing fleet. With production just weeks away, we won't have to wait much longer to see if Tesla's first robotaxi is also its first front-wheel-drive car.
