Image: @klwtts
Tesla has quietly updated the gold navigation visuals used in its Robotaxi rides, adding a new dynamic behavior that changes with vehicle speed. The change was first spotted by @klwtts during a Robotaxi ride in the Bay Area, who noted that the gold underglow now expands and contracts depending on how fast the vehicle is moving — fully illuminating when stopped and gradually fading as the car accelerates and the “path plan noodle” extends.
This subtle yet striking visual tweak comes just weeks after Tesla first introduced gold route visualizations for Robotaxis earlier this month. The update immediately drew attention online, with some speculating that the gold theme could mean the company is testing the long-rumored “Unsupervised” version of Full Self-Driving (FSD), said to enable fully autonomous operation without human oversight. However, it’s more likely that the visual shift serves a simpler purpose: differentiating Tesla’s dedicated Robotaxis from regular vehicles with FSD enabled.
Gold has quickly become Tesla’s signature color for its Robotaxi program. The company’s upcoming Cybercab — the purpose-built vehicle designed specifically for ride-hailing — was first unveiled in gold. In fact, Tesla has been ramping up Cybercab development in recent months, with prototypes spotted testing both at its Fremont factory in California and at Gigafactory Texas.
The Cybercab also made a surprise cameo in Tesla’s Fourth of July promotional video earlier this year, fueling excitement over the company’s long-awaited entry into the autonomous ride-hailing market. With production expected to ramp heading into 2026, Tesla’s ongoing refinements to Robotaxi visuals suggest steady progress toward commercial launch.
As the company continues refining the Robotaxi experience — both functionally and aesthetically — these small but noticeable software updates hint at Tesla’s broader push toward making its fully autonomous fleet a reality.
