NHTSA orders Tesla to prove its Cybercab is legal to sell under oath
US safety regulators have issued a formal order requiring Tesla to prove under oath that its steering wheel-free Cybercab complies with federal standards.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a formal Special Order demanding that Tesla prove its Cybercab model is legally fit for sale. The agency wants the automaker to demonstrate, under oath, how a vehicle lacking a steering wheel, pedals, and mirrors complies with federal safety standards originally written for human drivers.
The controversial vehicle design has raised numerous regulatory questions since it features no traditional driver controls. Regulators are closely examining how autonomous vehicles without standard physical interfaces fit into the existing legal framework for public roads.
Tesla has been given until September 30 to respond to the inquiry. The company faces severe financial consequences for non-compliance, with penalties reaching up to $139 million if it fails to provide a full and truthful answer.
This regulatory standoff highlights the growing friction between rapid autonomous technology innovation and traditional vehicle safety laws. The outcome of this order could set a crucial precedent for the commercialization of fully driverless vehicles globally.
