Tesla’s Wheelless Cybercabs Face US Safety Investigation Just One Day After Launch

Just one day after Tesla’s wheelless taxis hit the streets of Austin, Texas, the ride is already facing a regulatory hurdle. The U.S. auto safety regulator has opened an investigation to determine whether new vehicles, which lack the steering wheels, mirrors and brake pedals normally required in vehicles, meet federal safety standards.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is examining whether Tesla fully complied with federal requirements when it implemented so-called Cybercabs. Two-seater vehicles do not have steering wheels, mirrors or brake pedals that are usually required in vehicles.Tesla boss Elon Musk launched the Cybercab service in Austin on Thursday, sending dozens of futuristic taxis onto city streets and hosting a launch event for guests.Before the launch, Tesla had said it relied on a self-certification process to ensure Cybercabs met federal standards. However, NHTSA is now examining whether the vehicles actually meet those requirements.In its presentation about the investigation, the agency said it would conduct an audit to “examine the process and technical data” Tesla used in the certification.Automakers typically self-certify vehicles before putting new models on public roads. However, an audit or regulatory investigation does not automatically follow such certification. Regulators investigate when they believe a certification may violate federal rules.The Cybercab differs from most new vehicle models in that it involves significant changes rather than minor modifications, introducing new safety concerns, the agency said.

Musk plans national launch of robotaxi

Thursday’s launch in Austin marked the start of what Musk has described as a nationwide rollout of a cheap, driverless taxi service that he says will transform the way people travel.Cybercabs do not have manual controls that passengers can use to take control in an emergency. Musk plans to integrate them into Tesla’s existing taxi service, which until now uses conventional Tesla vehicles.Tesla’s robotaxi network has been operating in Austin for more than a year and has also begun offering rides in five other cities in Texas and Florida.Tesla shares fell nearly 6% to $354.08 on Friday, reversing all gains made the previous day amid excitement over the launch.

Zoox faced a similar investigation

Tesla is not the first company to face regulatory scrutiny over steering-wheelless taxis.Rival taxi service Zoox faced an investigation three years ago after self-certifying its own taxis without steering wheels. Regulators eventually granted approval, but only after conducting a formal review.Tesla also faces several federal investigations into the safety of its self-driving software.An investigation is examining the software’s role in several Tesla crashes in fog, sun glare and other low visibility conditions, including one in which a pedestrian was killed.Another is investigating dozens of incidents involving Teslas that used partial self-driving software, ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road. Some of those incidents involved collisions with other vehicles and caused injuries.A third investigation is examining why Tesla apparently violated regulatory requirements by failing to report accidents promptly.