As public rides began in downtown Austin, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated a formal investigation into whether Tesla’s purpose-built Cybercab was correctly certified to operate on U.S. roads.
According to a report from Reuters, federal regulators are examining the internal technical data and compliance procedures Tesla used to self-certify up to 1,000 Cybercab vehicles under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The inquiry coincided with Tesla unveiling the Cybercab at an official launch event on Thursday. After free demo rides for attendees, the Cybercab joined the Robotaxi fleet and began commercial service on Friday, enabling anyone in Austin to request rides through the Robotaxi app.
Self-Certification and Missing Human Controls
In the U.S., automakers typically self-certify that their vehicles meet federal standards before delivery. While retrofitted vehicles like the Model Y robotaxi fit conventional definitions, the Cybercab’s complete lack of a steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and side-view mirrors complicates compliance.
Federal rules generally require automakers producing vehicles without traditional manual controls to petition NHTSA for a temporary regulatory exemption. The agency can authorize up to 2,500 exempted driverless vehicles per manufacturer per year, a pathway Amazon-owned Zoox successfully used in July for its custom robotaxis.
Tesla did not submit an exemption petition for the Cybercab. Instead, Tesla self-certified SAE Level 4 autonomy in Texas earlier this spring under new state rules. Tesla leadership previously confirmed that the Cybercab isn’t subject to the 2,500-per-year production cap.
NHTSA is evaluating the legal and engineering basis for that position, including whether Tesla incorrectly determined that certain federal requirements did not apply to the Cybercab. Addressing the investigation, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said:
“NHTSA fully supports the safe development and deployment of automated vehicles. But as the federal regulator, we need to ensure that all of our laws are followed.”
Active Fleets and Pending Federal Rulemaking
State motor vehicle records show Tesla had 420 total autonomous vehicles registered in Texas as of Friday, with 45 of those being purpose-built Cybercabs. The rest are modified Model Ys that retain traditional steering controls.
In June, NHTSA proposed rule changes aimed at eliminating older mandates for manual brake pedals in autonomous vehicles, along with separate updates addressing forward mirrors and driver equipment. The agency emphasized that existing federal motor vehicle rules remain in force until any revisions are finalized.
Public Cybercab rides continue in Austin for now, underscoring the legal friction facing Tesla and other automakers as purpose-built, steering wheel-less vehicles reach public streets ahead of federal rule updates.
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