tesla launches cybercab rides in austin safety already under scrutinyTesla has officially started letting people ride in its futuristic Cybercab within limited zones of Austin, Texas.This is the first deployment of Tesla's purpose-built, two-seater robotaxi designed without a steering wheel or pedals. The launch immediately caught the attention of federal regulators. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed yesterday that it is now actively evaluating Tesla's Cybercab operations. The agency is looking at how Tesla determined that certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were not applicable to the vehicle.Per NHTSA:On September 3, 2026, Tesla began commercial deployment with a small number of its Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas. Tesla notified the Agency that it certified those Cybercab vehicles as compliant with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Tesla also notified the Agency that it plans to gradually expand commercial deployment of the Cybercab to include additional vehicles and locations. The vehicles lack permanently attached, conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel, and mirrors. NHTSA is opening this AQ to examine the process and technical data on which Tesla relied when certifying the Cybercab and related issues. Among other things, NHTSA will consider the extent to which Tesla's certification depended on determinations that certain FMVSS are inapplicable to the Cybercab.Reuters reports that Tesla currently has 420 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas, including 45 Cybercabs. The remainder of the fleet consists of Model Y crossovers, which have safety monitors riding along. Rival robotaxi operator Waymo maintains a registered fleet of 988 autonomous vehicles in the state, though all of its vehicles retain traditional steering wheels and pedals.AdvertisementAdvertisementTesla said that the Cybercab service is open to the public, but access remains restricted to specific pockets within Austin. Tesla didn't confirm when it would even begin charging passenger fares. The automaker's executives are promising a "first-class experience at coach price" once full operations begin.Tesla's robotaxi operations in Dallas and Houston were revealing - challenges included long wait times and drop-offs outside people's actual destination zones. Tesla is still facing regulatory barriers in California, where the company lacks the necessary permits to operate a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletterhere.
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