NHTSA Investigates Tesla's Steering-Wheel-Free Cybercabs After Austin Launch

Just a day after Tesla’s wheel-free taxis hit the streets of Austin, Texas, the ride is already facing a regulatory speed bump. The US auto safety regulator has opened an investigation into whether the new vehicles, which lack steering wheels, mirrors and brake pedals typically required in vehicles, comply with federal safety rules. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is examining whether Tesla was in full compliance with federal requirements when it deployed the so-called Cybercabs. The two-seat vehicles do not have steering wheels, mirrors or brake pedals typically required in vehicles. Tesla chief Elon Musk launched the Cybercab service in Austin on Thursday, sending dozens of the futuristic taxis onto city streets and hosting a launch event for invitees. Before the launch, Tesla had said it relied on a self-certification process to ensure the Cybercabs complied with federal standards. However, NHTSA is now examining whether the vehicles actually meet those requirements. In its filing on the probe, the agency said it would conduct an audit to “examine the process and technical data” Tesla used in the certification. Automakers generally self-certify vehicles before putting new models on public roads. However, a regulatory audit or investigation does not automatically follow such certification. Regulators investigate when they believe a certification may violate federal rules. The Cybercab differs from most new vehicle models in that it involves significant changes rather than minor modifications, presenting new safety issues, the agency said.

Musk plans national robotaxi rollout

Thursday’s Austin launch marked the start of what Musk has described as a national rollout of a cheap, driverless taxi service that he says will transform the way people travel. The Cybercabs do not have manual controls that passengers could use to take over in an emergency. Musk plans to integrate them into Tesla’s existing cab service, which until now has used conventional Tesla vehicles. Tesla’s robotaxi network has been operating in Austin for more than a year and has also started offering rides in five other cities in Texas and Florida. Tesla shares fell nearly 6% to $354.08 on Friday, wiping out all of the gains made a day earlier amid excitement over the launch.

Zoox faced similar probe

Tesla is not the first company to face regulatory scrutiny over steering-wheel-free taxis. Rival taxi service Zoox faced a probe three years ago after self-certifying its own steering-wheel-free cabs. Regulators eventually granted approval, but only after carrying out a formal review. Tesla is also facing several federal investigations into the safety of its self-driving software. One probe is examining the software’s role in several Tesla crashes in fog, sun glare and other low-visibility conditions, including one in which a pedestrian was killed. Another is looking into dozens of incidents involving Teslas using partial self-driving software that ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road. Some of those incidents involved crashes with other vehicles and caused injuries. A third investigation is examining why Tesla apparently violated regulatory requirements by failing to report crashes promptly.

End of Article