Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab may be designed to drive itself, but one newly spotted feature suggests the company hasn’t forgotten about a long-standing owner complaint — especially in colder climates.
A Cybercab validation unit was recently spotted testing on public roads in Chicago, and an image shared by @DennisCW_ shows something Tesla owners have been asking for years: a rear camera washer. The photo, taken near Addison and Western, appears to show the rear camera actively being cleaned, complete with a salty winter backdrop that perfectly illustrates why the feature matters in the first place.
Rear camera visibility has been a persistent pain point for Tesla owners, particularly in snowy or slushy conditions where road grime can quickly obscure the camera. With Tesla vehicles relying heavily on cameras for driver assistance and Full Self-Driving, a blocked rear camera isn’t just inconvenient — it can directly impact system performance. The Cybercab adding a dedicated washer suggests Tesla is finally addressing that reality, at least on its next-generation autonomous platform.
The Cybercab is Tesla’s upcoming two-seat, all-electric vehicle built specifically for the company’s Robotaxi network. Tesla has been steadily ramping up real-world testing, with early sightings in California last fall, followed by Austin last month, and now expanded testing across multiple states, including Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. At least eleven Cybercab units are now operating on public roads, signaling Tesla is deep into final validation ahead of expected volume production in April.
When production begins, the Cybercab is expected to ship without a steering wheel, pedals, or even side mirrors, relying entirely on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. While current test vehicles still retain traditional controls, Tesla has already been seen removing side mirrors from validation units, reinforcing how close the final design may be.
As for the rear camera washer, there’s no word yet on whether — or when — it might make its way to the rest of Tesla’s lineup. For now, it appears to be Cybercab-only hardware. Still, given how often owners have requested this feature, especially in winter-heavy regions, there’s hope Tesla will eventually bring it to more models.
