U.S. Agency Reviews Tesla's Steering-Wheel-Less Cybercab Robotaxi

Traffic Safety U.S. Agency Reviews Tesla's Robotaxi

2026-09-17 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

Under U.S. regulations, autonomous robotaxis require a special permit if they are to operate without a steering wheel or pedals. Tesla appears to be ignoring this requirement.

Tesla has high hopes for robotaxis. However, the test drives appear to violate safety regulations.(Image: Tesla Motors) — Tesla has high hopes for robotaxis. However, the test drives appear to violate safety regulations.
(Image: Tesla Motors)

Tesla is in hot water with the U.S. traffic regulatory agency following the launch of its Cybercab robotaxi. In a questionnaire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cites, among other things, the rule that vehicles on U.S. roads must have a foot-operated brake—and wants to know how a Cybercab without pedals can comply with this safety regulation. Tesla has until the end of September to respond. Continued violations of the regulation could result in fines of up to $139 million (approx. 120 million euros).

In accordance with standard U.S. procedures, Tesla itself had assured authorities in early September—before launching some of its cybercabs in Austin, Texas—that the vehicles complied with current traffic safety regulations. The NHTSA immediately raised questions about this. This is because, in principle, all vehicles on U.S. roads must have a steering wheel and pedals. Waymo, the leading robotaxi provider, for example, has retained these controls in thousands of its vehicles, which operate without a human behind the wheel. This allows police or fire departments, for instance, to take control of the vehicle if necessary.

Ceremonial launch of Mercedes-Benz GLA production in Rastatt; among those in attendance was plant manager Marco Zwick (second from the right). (Source: Thomas Günnel – Automotive Industry)

No Exception Requested

However, there is one exception: Following a review by the NHTSA, companies can be granted permission to put up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels or pedals on the road. Amazon’s subsidiary Zoox, for example, has taken advantage of this provision to transport people in its innovative transport capsules in Las Vegas and San Francisco.

However, Tesla did not apply for such a permit. Meanwhile, some Cybercab passengers reported seeing controls on the car's screen as they got in—though these did not respond to their inputs. Tesla may consider this feature an adequate substitute for the steering wheel and pedals.

Musk's Big Promises

Tesla CEO Musk had announced that autonomous driving and humanoid robots would shape the future of the electric car manufacturer. Unlike Waymo and other robotaxi developers, Tesla does not use more expensive lidar systems, which scan the vehicles’ surroundings, and relies exclusively on cameras. While this approach is less expensive, it has been criticized by experts and competitors as not safe enough. Musk insists that cameras are sufficient.

Despite the tech billionaire's grand announcements, Tesla has so far put only a few self-driving cars on the road without human supervision.

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