Cybercab (Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images)

It turns out Tesla’s Cybercab might need to have a steering wheel and pedals after all

Tesla’s Cybercab was supposed to be a steering-wheel-less alternative to its affordable mass market car.

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When Tesla scrapped its plans for a low-cost consumer car, the company said that instead it would produce the low-cost Cybercab, an autonomous-only vehicle without a steering wheel and pedals meant for ride-hailing or personal use.

“I think having a regular $25,000 model is pointless,” CEO Elon Musk said on Tesla’s earnings call last October. “It would be silly, like it will be completely at odds with what we believe.” The vehicle was supposed to be available for ride-hailing this year and in “volume production” in 2026.

It looks like Tesla may be backtracking on those plans.

“If we have to have a steering wheel, it can have a steering wheel and pedals,” Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm told Bloomberg Tuesday.

Doing so would solve a number of problems for Tesla.

First off, it’s unclear whether Tesla’s technology is where it needs to be for cars to safely drive themselves without someone intervening. While Musk recently said the company now has “clarity” on achieving unsupervised full self-driving, that’s not the same thing as rolling out unsupervised FSD to the public, which the company has long promised. Even the company’s robotaxis, which comprise about 30 Model Ys in a pilot program in Austin, still have a safety monitor in the passenger seat.

Then there’s also the thorny issue of getting approval for the driverless tech. Despite Musk’s lobbying efforts, regulators haven’t budged on certain safety standards, like requiring mass market cars to have steering wheels and pedals.

“The original Model Y was not going to have a steering wheel, or pedals,” Denholm told Bloomberg, saying the company has been here before. “If we can’t sell something because it needs something, then we’ll work with regulators to work out what we need to do.”

The release of the Cybercab could help solve issues with the company’s aging, relatively expensive lineup. Earlier this month, Tesla unveiled its “new” Model Ys and 3s, but they were mostly just lower-trim versions of existing Model Ys and 3s. Their lower prices had also been significantly undercut by the expiration of the government’s $7,500 EV tax credit. The Cybercab, which is supposed to cost around $25,000, would be both cheaper and newer than the company’s existing lineup.

Tesla hasn’t released a truly new model since the Cybertruck came out in 2023, and that has largely been a flop sales-wise. Tesla also generally offers far fewer options than competitors like BYD.

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Matt Phillips10/28/25

Intel romps amid reported attempt to poach a 21-year Taiwan Semiconductor veteran

A report in the Taiwanese press that Intel is attempting to recruit a recently retired top Taiwan Semiconductor executive, Wei-Jen Lo, to lead R&D at Intel’s troubled foundry division may account for the bump in Intel shares Tuesday, one analyst told us.

A synopsis of the report from technology analysis and news outlet TrendForce News notes:

“If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.”

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, TrendForce says:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

Intel Reportedly Eyes Retired TSMC Veteran Wei-Jen Lo, Advanced Node Pioneer, to Lead R&D

“If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.”

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, TrendForce says:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

Rani Molla

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Nokia surges as Nvidia invests $1 billion in company, a 2.9% stake

Nvidia is taking a 2.9% stake in Nokia, as the Finnish mobile networking company has successfully pivoted to AI and data center technology.

In a press release announcing the deal, Nokia said:

“Nokia intends to accelerate development of Nokia’s 5G & 6G RAN software to run on NVIDIA’s architecture and will make investments to drive Nokia’s strategic goal of increasing its presence in the AI & Cloud market with data center aligned networking solutions within its Network Infrastructure business. Nokia and NVIDIA have agreed to collaborate on AI networking solutions and explore opportunities to incorporate Nokia’s data center switching and optical technologies in NVIDIA’s future AI infrastructure architecture.”

Nokia’s stock shot up over 20% on news of the deal.

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“Nokia intends to accelerate development of Nokia’s 5G & 6G RAN software to run on NVIDIA’s architecture and will make investments to drive Nokia’s strategic goal of increasing its presence in the AI & Cloud market with data center aligned networking solutions within its Network Infrastructure business. Nokia and NVIDIA have agreed to collaborate on AI networking solutions and explore opportunities to incorporate Nokia’s data center switching and optical technologies in NVIDIA’s future AI infrastructure architecture.”