The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Tesla, just hours after the company introduced its first Cybercabs onto the streets of Austin, Texas. These vehicles are designed without a steering wheel or pedals.
Federal vehicle safety regulations typically mandate manual controls such as brake pedals. However, the Department of Transportation has recently proposed removing these requirements for vehicles engineered for self-driving capabilities.
Tesla opted for self-certification, a standard procedure for automakers with traditional human-driven vehicles. The NHTSA's action to open an investigation follows this deployment, though Tesla may continue operations while the inquiry proceeds. According to Texas's automated vehicle tracker, Tesla has registered 45 Cybercabs in the state.