NHTSA Launches Safety Review of Tesla Cybercab, Affecting ~1,000 Vehicles

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a compliance review of Tesla’s Cybercab, covering approximately 1,000 units of the vehicle. The review focuses on Tesla’s certification process and technical data used to demonstrate that the Cybercab meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The investigation began on September 3 local time—the same day Tesla commenced limited commercial operations of its two-seat Cybercabs in Austin, Texas. NHTSA noted that the Cybercab lacks permanently installed conventional manual controls, including a steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, and rearview mirrors. The review also examines how Tesla determined that certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards do not apply to this model. According to data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, as of the morning of September 6 local time, there were 420 autonomous vehicles registered in the state, 45 of which were Cybercabs. Tesla stated it plans to gradually increase the number of operational vehicles and expand its service coverage area in the future.