Wes Morrill, the Lead Engineer for Tesla’s Cybertruck, revealed that the company had contemplated equipping the all-electric pickup with a “Crab Walk” feature similar to General Motors’ HUMMER EV. However, after testing and development, Tesla deemed the feature not useful for the Cybertruck.
CrabWalk, as implemented by GM, is a four-wheel steer mode designed to enhance vehicle maneuverability in off-road and parking scenarios. It allows the rear wheels to mimic the angle of the front wheels, enabling diagonal movement.
Does anyone know when this feature is practically useful? Genuinely curious. We played with this in development but no matter what we tried it was a clunky/awkward experience with no real use case. If the wheels could turn 90 deg and you could actually slide sideways it would be…
— Wes (@wmorrill3) April 17, 2024
Despite its potential benefits for tasks like parallel parking, Crab Walk is limited to incredibly low speeds, with GM stating it operates up to 1.2 miles per hour. Morrill described the Cybertruck’s experience with the feature as “clunky/awkward,” leading to its exclusion from the vehicle’s feature set.
While the Cybertruck boasts numerous innovative features, Crab Walk did not make the cut. Tesla fans do not appear to be disappointed by its absence, as the pickup’s steer-by-wire system has received praise for its ease of turning and driving experience.
The decision to forgo Crab Walk underscores Tesla’s commitment to delivering a well-rounded and user-friendly driving experience with the Cybertruck, focusing on features that enhance practicality and performance.
