NHTSA investigates Tesla Cybercab launch on Austin public roads

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Tesla’s deployment of the Cybercab on public roads in Austin, Texas. The regulator announced the probe on Friday morning, only hours after Tesla put its new robotaxi into service without a steering wheel or pedals.

The investigation centres on a vehicle configuration that departs from manual-control requirements in current federal vehicle safety regulations. Tesla told NHTSA that it had self-certified the Cybercab as compliant with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

Probe follows first Cybercab deployment

The Cybercab is intended to operate autonomously and lacks the steering wheel and brake pedals normally associated with passenger vehicles. Tesla’s move to put the vehicle on Austin roads prompted immediate scrutiny from the country’s principal automotive safety regulator.

The Austin deployment builds on Tesla Cybercab Austin road testing as Tesla moves its steering-wheel-free robotaxi from testing into public-road operation. NHTSA’s announcement means the launch is now accompanied by a federal review of the vehicle and its claimed compliance.

Manual controls remain a regulatory issue

Federal vehicle safety regulations currently require manual controls, including brake pedals. That creates a direct regulatory question for vehicles designed from the outset to drive autonomously and therefore built without those controls.

The Department of Transportation has recently proposed removing manual-control requirements for vehicles designed for autonomous driving. The proposal is relevant context, but it does not change the fact that NHTSA has opened a probe into Tesla’s current Cybercab deployment.

Self-certification under FMVSS

Tesla said it self-certified the Cybercab’s compliance with FMVSS. Self-certification is the usual process for automakers: manufacturers assess whether their vehicles meet applicable federal safety standards rather than seeking routine pre-approval from the regulator.

For businesses evaluating autonomous transport, the case underlines the need to separate a manufacturer’s compliance certification from the regulatory questions that can arise once a vehicle reaches public roads. Deployment planning should account for both the applicable standards and the possibility of post-launch scrutiny.