Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab self-driving taxi is being investigated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shortly after its launch. Multiple outlets report the agency is examining whether the vehicle complies with federal auto safety requirements, particularly those related to manual driver controls and how such controls are handled in a vehicle without a steering wheel.
NHTSA actions also focus on Tesla’s certification and compliance approach. Reports say the agency is reviewing Tesla’s self-certification process and may look at the vehicle’s rollout in Austin, Texas, a day after launch. Some coverage notes NHTSA’s stance that existing rules were largely written for human-driven cars, while Tesla argues its autonomous taxi is exempt from certain manual-control requirements. One outlet also compares the situation to earlier regulatory scrutiny of competitor Zoox. Overall, reporters describe the probe as a compliance assessment rather than a public safety finding, with Tesla providing responses as the investigation proceeds.
