The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation on September 7, 2026, regarding Tesla’s self-certification of its Cybercab shortly after it began commercial operation. The core of this investigation is that the Cybercab lacks permanently installed manual controls such as steering wheels and brake pedals. NHTSA requires manufacturers to prove that vehicles meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, including these controls, before they can enter the U.S. market. NHTSA will review the technical data Tesla relied on during the certification process and determine why certain standards do not apply. Although Amazon Zoox had a two-year exemption from these requirements, NHTSA director emphasized the need to ensure all laws are followed. This investigation is expected to involve approximately 1,000 Cybercab vehicles, which began commercial operation in Texas on September 3.
NHTSA has initiated an investigation into Tesla Cybercab’s self-certification and safety standards.
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2026-09-04
NHTSA announced the start of an investigation into Cybercab.
U.S. federal regulators launched an investigation immediately after Tesla Cybercab went online, focusing on its self-certification process and data.
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2026-09-07
The investigation focuses on the lack of manual control devices.
NHTSA’s investigation targets Cybercab’s self-certification shortly after commercial operation began, with a focus on the absence of permanent manual control devices such as steering wheels and brake pedals.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a safety standard certification review of approximately 1,000 Tesla Cybercabs, focusing on their certification process and technical data. The review began shortly after Tesla started commercial operations of a small number of two-seater Cybercabs in Austin, Texas, on September 3. NHTSA noted that the Cybercabs do not have permanently fixed traditional manual control devices, including steering wheels, brake pedals, accelerator pedals, and rear mirrors. The review will involve issues related to Tesla’s certification basis, including how Tesla determined that some federal motor vehicle safety standards did not apply to Cybercabs. Data from the Texas government shows that as of Friday morning local time, Tesla had registered 420 autonomous vehicles in the state, of which 45 were Cybercabs.
U.S. federal regulators have launched an investigation immediately after the launch of Tesla Cybercab, focusing on the process and data used by Tesla for self-certification of the vehicle.