Federal regulators have opened an investigation into the Tesla Cybercab after the automaker placed its new robotaxi on public roads without a steering wheel or pedals. The move puts Tesla’s driverless ambitions under fresh scrutiny in the United States.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the probe Friday morning, just hours after the first Cybercabs began operating on the streets of Austin, Texas. The agency is the country’s top automotive safety regulator, and its inquiry centers on whether the vehicle meets national safety rules.
Why the Cybercab is under review
Federal vehicle safety regulations require manual controls such as brake pedals. The Department of Transportation recently proposed removing those requirements for vehicles designed to operate autonomously, but that change has not taken effect. The Cybercab launched without traditional driver controls, prompting immediate regulatory attention.
According to NHTSA, Tesla told the agency that it self-certified the Cybercab as compliant with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Automakers traditionally self-certify whether their vehicles meet FMVSS rules, a practice that shifts much of the compliance responsibility to the manufacturer.
What NHTSA plans to examine
In its filing, the agency said it opened the investigation to “examine the process and technical data on which Tesla relied when certifying the Cybercab and related issues.” NHTSA said it will also weigh how much the company’s certification depended on determinations that certain federal motor standards do not apply to the Cybercab.
The robotaxi represents a key part of Tesla’s autonomous driving strategy, and the outcome of the review could influence how driverless vehicles without manual controls are permitted to operate on American roads. The investigation was opened the same day the first units hit the streets in Austin, and the matter remains developing as regulators gather additional information from the company.
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Image: techcrunch.com
