NHTSA opens probe into Tesla's Cybercab hours after its Austin launch
NHTSA opened an audit query into Tesla's decision to self-certify the Cybercab — no steering wheel, no pedals — as FMVSS-compliant, hours after the first production units carried passengers in Austin. Federal rules still require manual controls, and the Trump administration's proposal to drop them is not yet in force, so Tesla's fleet is running on a certification the regulator is actively contesting. The precedent is Zoox: a 2022 self-certification triggered the same audit process, and the company only reached commercial rides after a Part 555 exemption approved in July 2026.
Source: techcrunch.com ↗
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.
Why this matters
- → Tesla launched a steering-wheel-free vehicle before federal rules permit it, triggering immediate regulatory s
- → Precedent from Zoox shows certification audits can delay commercial deployment by years.
- → Regulatory uncertainty creates risk for Tesla's Cybercab scaling plans.