Recently, photographs of a prototype of the Tesla Model 3 being tested on public roads in Minnesota have emerged. What sets this Model 3 prototype apart from the existing models is its unique camera arrangement, especially the placement of a camera on the front bumper. Such a latest observation has gained additional speculation within the EV spectrum as many are convinced that this special Model 3 might be associated with Tesla’s upcoming self-driving taxi service, being called “CyberCab”.
The prototype does not look different from the current Model 3 or the Highland refresh regarding silhouette and style, but it incorporates some vital hardware enhancements. The standout feature is a front bumper camera.
Tesla Model 3 Prototype (Possible Robotaxi) Spotted in Minnesota
There are extra side cameras appearing to be installed on the vehicle that on other Tesla models and in a different configuration. Such alterations indicate that Tesla is experimenting with new visual data locations in a bid to strengthen the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. Tesla remains obsessed with vision-only technologies, but altered camera placement points to the firm fine-tuning its neural network’s visual inputs to enhance advanced autonomy.
Saw an M3 Cyber Cab test mule in MN today! Snapped a pic of the screen too. Confirmed it has a front bumper camera. pic.twitter.com/sxj4RPGJK3
— Tesla Copilot (@Tesla_Copilot) May 7, 2025
Possible Connection to CyberCab
The decision of Tesla to test this prototype in Minnesota, which is away from their usual testing sites in California and Texas, implies that the company is collecting information from different environments. The harsh climate of this state and unique driving conditions make Minnesota the perfect testing ground for new autonomous systems by Tesla.
Industry observers say that this prototype may be the first step toward Tesla’s CyberCab program, the robotaxi service offered by CEO Elon Musk. According to the latest speculations, including the creation of the CyberCab – a vehicle without conventional driver control and that runs completely on autonomous systems – this automobile will be introduced as a prototype by mid-2025.
This Model 3 prototype seems to be a platform for proof of concept for the artificial intelligence features and hardware needed for the CyberCab project.
Enhanced Vision, Enhanced Autonomy
Different from the approach of the competitors, the way Tesla’s approach to self-driving technology is quite different. Unlike many competitors who use LiDAR and radar, Tesla stubbornly follows a vision-only autonomous vision. Mounting a camera at the front end of a bumper could enable Tesla to address challenges in existing FSD runs, especially in regards to objects of low clearance or imaging in wildly lit environments.
It is another instance of the process of progressive improvements that Tesla is pursuing. Unlike other competitors that bring new hardware at every launch, Tesla normally tests and pilots upgrades on the back end before launching them to the public. The sight of this particular Model 3 may mark a progress towards Tesla’s progression from the FSD Beta to either supervised or unsupervised robotaxi services.
Community Reactions
There is a lot of speculation in the Tesla community. Some believe that the prototype may qualify as part of the earliest autonomous taxi fleet, while others view it as a tool towards pushing the FSD technology. No matter what the prototype is supposed to be intended for, the revised camera positions make it perfectly clear that Tesla’s autonomous driving efforts are not only in full swing but continue into the future.
If this prototype is indeed linked with CyberCab, that would mean that Tesla is proceeding with autonomous taxi plans at a much faster rate than people had thought.
