Agency could compel recall if robotaxi fails federal safety standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered Tesla on Tuesday to disclose whether its steering wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi can be temporarily fitted with manual driving controls, and whether such controls were part of the company’s basis for certifying compliance with federal safety standards.
In the order, NHTSA directed Tesla to “state whether temporarily installed human driver controls or other equipment for use by a human driver were a part of Tesla’s basis for certifying compliance.”
The Cybercab is a two-seat robotaxi built without pedals, mirrors or a steering wheel. Tesla began offering paid rides to customers in the vehicle earlier this month as part of its robotaxi fleet operating in Austin, Texas. The company has said its design meets all applicable rules for vehicles operating on public roads.
An automaker has never sold a car without a steering wheel or pedals. Tesla has said it plans to eventually sell the Cybercab to the public.
NHTSA opened its investigation into the Cybercab earlier this month, saying the vehicle’s unique design potentially conflicts with federal safety standards. In Tuesday’s order, the agency asked Tesla to confirm whether it can “temporarily” install manual driving controls to operate the Cybercab, and whether that capability underpinned its determination that the vehicle is in compliance.
The agency is in the process of overhauling those standards to accommodate driverless vehicles, but the changes are not yet in place. If NHTSA determines the Cybercab is not compliant with federal safety standards, the agency could order a recall to address any issues. Refusing such an order could expose Tesla to fines.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for NHTSA declined to comment.
Tesla has acknowledged in its own materials that some Cybercabs carry manual driving hardware. In a guide for first responders, the company said the Cybercab “typically” is not equipped with a steering wheel, but that some versions might have one.
“To facilitate testing and validation of safety systems, a number of Cybercabs are equipped with hardware for manual operation, such as a steering wheel and pedals for acceleration and braking,” Tesla said in the guide.
In the run-up to the Cybercab’s public launch, Tesla showed prototypes at public events that had visible steering wheels attached to the car, according to people familiar with the events.
Tesla previously weighed the possibility of making a fully autonomous car with a steering wheel and pedals that could be stowed when they are not in use. The Cybercab’s steer and brake system uses an all-electronic “by wire” design rather than mechanical components, which experts said could make a detachable steering wheel kit technically feasible.
Paul Snyder, who chairs the College for Creative Studies’ transportation design program, said a temporary driver kit would require a “unique or heavily modified instrument panel on the driver side.”
“A lot depends on if they planned for it when it was originally engineered,” Snyder said.
Tesla sees the Cybercab as central to its effort to transition from making traditional electric vehicles to fully autonomous cars. Chief Executive Elon Musk has said he wants the company to dominate the autonomous vehicle arena with its Full Self-Driving software, which underpins the Cybercab’s operations. Tesla’s ride-hailing service is racing against rivals like Alphabet’s Waymo and Amazon.com’s Zoox to develop driverless taxi services.