Tesla Cybercab launches in Austin, faces NHTSA investigation
Original: TechCrunch Mobility: Tesla Cybercab hits the road — and a snag
Why This Matters
Tesla's Cybercab launch tests whether legacy automakers can compete with established robotaxi operators like Waymo at scale.
Tesla launched its Cybercab robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, but the NHTSA opened an investigation hours later due to the vehicle's lack of steering wheel and pedals, which conflicts with current federal safety regulations. As of the launch date, only 45 Cybercabs are registered in Texas.
Tesla held a Cybercab launch event in Austin, Texas, marking the first deployment of its steering-wheel-free, pedal-free robotaxi on public roads. The event was notably subdued compared to past Tesla showcases, and CEO Elon Musk did not attend. Wall Street reacted with limited enthusiasm. Within hours of the launch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal investigation into Tesla, citing federal vehicle safety regulations that require manual controls such as brake pedals. Tesla chose to self-certify the Cybercab — a process typically used for conventional human-driven vehicles — rather than seeking a formal exemption. The Department of Transportation has recently proposed removing manual control requirements for fully autonomous vehicles, but that rule change has not yet taken effect. Tesla may continue operations during the investigation. According to Texas's automated vehicle tracker, only 45 Cybercabs are currently registered in the state, a fraction of Waymo's established scale. Tesla has also indicated interest in selling Cybercabs directly to fleet operators. The company published several operational guides, including a restriction barring children from riding unaccompanied.