Tesla has officially launched its Cybercab robotaxi in Austin, Texas. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel, pedals, or side mirrors.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the rollout. Regulators are examining the process and technical data Tesla used to certify that up to 1,000 Cybercabs comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The agency is specifically reviewing how Tesla determined that certain safety standards were not applicable to the vehicle. While the NHTSA proposed in June that manual brake pedals might no longer be required for fully autonomous vehicles, that rule remains in effect today.
Unlike other companies such as Zoox, which petitioned the NHTSA for approval to operate paid robotaxis on public roads, Tesla has not filed a similar petition with the regulator.