NHTSA Demands Sworn Answers on Tesla's Steering-Wheel-Free Cybercab

<h2>Regulator Seeks Formal Explanation</h2> <p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding sworn answers from Tesla over how the company certified its Cybercab, a vehicle designed without a steering wheel or pedals, according to a report from The Cool Down. The inquiry centers on the process Tesla used to determine that the Cybercab meets federal safety standards despite lacking the manual controls found in virtually every other passenger vehicle on U.S. roads.</p> <h2>Why the Missing Controls Matter</h2> <p>Traditional vehicle safety certification in the United States has long assumed the presence of a steering wheel and pedals, components tied to crash-test protocols, occupant protection standards, and driver-assistance requirements. Tesla's Cybercab, conceived as a fully autonomous robotaxi, removes those elements entirely, leaving regulators to examine whether the company followed an appropriate self-certification pathway or whether it needs additional exemptions to legally operate the vehicle.</p> <p>By requiring sworn statements, NHTSA is signaling that it wants a formal, legally binding account of Tesla's certification process rather than informal correspondence. Sworn responses carry legal weight, meaning any inaccuracies could expose the company to further scrutiny or penalties. The move underscores the broader regulatory uncertainty facing automakers that are pushing to bring driverless vehicles to market ahead of settled federal rules governing vehicles with no manual controls.</p> <h2>What Comes Next</h2> <p>The outcome of NHTSA's inquiry could have significant implications for Tesla's timeline to deploy the Cybercab commercially. If regulators find that Tesla's certification approach was insufficient, the company could face delays, required design changes, or additional compliance steps before the vehicle is cleared for wider use. The Cool Down's report does not detail a specific timeline for Tesla's response or indicate what penalties, if any, could follow.</p> <p class="text-sm"><em>Source: <a href="https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/tesla-cybercab-nhtsa-safety-questions/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Cool Down</a></em></p>