US opens probe into Tesla Cybercab compliance with federal safety rules

US opens probe into Tesla Cybercab compliance with federal safety rules

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the certification of nearly 1,000 Tesla Cybercabs, just hours after the electric vehicle maker began offering commercial rides in Austin, Texas, on Thursday.

The federal probe focuses on whether Tesla adhered to safety standards when deploying the two-seater vehicles, which lack the steering wheels, brake pedals, accelerator pedals, and conventional mirrors typically required for road use. While Tesla informed regulators that it relied on a self-certification procedure to ensure the Cybercabs complied with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, the agency remains uncertain if the vehicles meet those requirements.

In its filing, the NHTSA stated it will conduct an audit to examine the process and technical data Tesla used for certification. Regulators are specifically questioning how Tesla determined that certain federal standards did not apply to a vehicle designed to operate without a human driver.

The investigation comes as Elon Musk intends to integrate the Cybercab into a wider robotaxi network. While Tesla has operated a robotaxi service in Austin for more than a year using modified Model Y vehicles that retain manual controls, the Cybercab was designed from the outset to be driverless. This service has also expanded to five other cities across Florida and Texas.

Market reaction to the news was immediate. Tesla stock fell by more than 5 per cent to $357.38 in early trading on Friday, erasing much of the financial gain seen the previous day.

Regulatory Precedents and Exemptions

The conflict highlights a tension between existing safety laws—many of which were written for human-operated cars—and the development of autonomous vehicles. The NHTSA has previously moved toward updating these rules; in June, the agency proposed removing manual brake pedal requirements for certain self-driving vehicles.

Tesla's approach differs from that of Amazon's autonomous unit, Zoox. After a formal review and a demonstration exemption in 2025, Zoox applied for a temporary Part 555 exemption from eight federal safety standards. In July 2026, the NHTSA approved the petition, allowing Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 steering-wheel-free robotaxis annually for two years.

"Zoox demonstrated that their vehicle design has an equivalent level of safety as a vehicle that meets all FMVSS,"

Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator, via Gizmodo

Unlike Zoox, Tesla did not seek a similar exemption before launching the Cybercab. Regarding the broader oversight of automated vehicles, Morrison stated:

"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,"

Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator, via Gizmodo

Operational Scale and Safety Record

Despite the audit covering nearly 1,000 vehicles, current deployment remains limited. Texas records as of Friday morning show 420 autonomous Tesla vehicles registered in the state, including 45 Cybercabs.

The launch event in downtown Austin featured a presentation by Tesla engineers stating that the company's broader Robotaxi fleet has surpassed 1 million miles of unsupervised driving. However, the event was described as rocky, with some invitees complaining about a lack of timing and location details until a Tesla engineer posted the 4:45 p.m. Start time on September 2. Elon Musk was notably absent from the event.

This probe is the latest in a series of federal investigations into Tesla's self-driving software. These include:

• An examination of software performance in low-visibility conditions, such as sun glare and fog, including a crash that killed a pedestrian.
• An investigation into dozens of incidents where vehicles using partial self-driving software drove on the wrong side of the road or ran red lights, resulting in some injuries.
• A probe into why Tesla failed to promptly report crashes, appearing to violate regulatory requirements.

Tesla has added a form to its website for those interested in purchasing a fleet of Cybercabs, though it has not specified if the vehicle will be available to individual consumers. Musk has previously stated that individuals could buy a Cybercab and add it to the company's network so it could be used as a robotaxi when they aren’t using it.

The outcome of the NHTSA audit will determine if Tesla must undergo a lengthy exemption process similar to Zoox or if its self-certification is deemed sufficient for wider commercial scaling.